AbstractBackground and Introduction: Cervicogenic headache is a very common condition which leads to significant disability. Cervicogenic headache was first introduced by Sjaastad in 1983 and is defined by the World Cervicogenic Headache Society as referred pain perceived in any part of the head caused by a primary nociceptive source in the musculoskeletal tissues innervated by cervical nerves. A number of studies have been conducted to find the effects of various therapeutic techniques on cervicogenic headache. In this study, comparison has been done between Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme for cervicogenic headache and Myofascial Release Techniques to find out the technique more effective in reducing cervicogenic headache parameters. Method: 30 subjects selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into 3 groups: Conventional group, Exercise group and MFR group to which Conventional treatment for Cervicogenic Headache, Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme and Myofascial Release Techniques respectively are administered. Pre and post treatment readings were recorded for Neck Disability Index score, Visual Analog Scale score, Headache Duration, Headache Frequency. Results: After one week of treatment it was found that all the three treatment approaches were effective in reducing the Cervicogenic headache parameters. However on comparing three treatment approaches, Myofascial Release Techniques were the most effective in reducing the above parameters. (p<0.05) Conclusion: Myofascial Release Techniques are more effective than Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme in reducing Cervicogenic Headache symptoms.
Key words: Cervicogenic Headache; Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme; Myofascial Release.