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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06879418

Dose Related Effects of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Upper Trapezius Trigger Points in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache.

A randomized double blinded controlled trial will be conducted to determine and compare the effects of low and medium dose radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy on upper trapezius trigger points in patients with cervicogenic headache. Data will be collected at base line and at the end of the treatment program. Participants will be assigned randomly into three groups Group (A) will receive 2000 shock waves at frequency 10 MHz and 0.045 mj/mm2 flux density plus strengthening and stretching exercise for upper trapezius muscle.

Group (B) will receive 2000 shock waves at frequency 10 MHz and 0.18 mj/mm2 energy flux density plus strengthening and stretching exercise for upper trapezius muscle.

Group (C) will receive sham shock wave therapy plus strengthening and stretching exercise for upper trapezius muscle.

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Key information

Conditions

Cervicogenic Headache Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Headache Disorders Headache Disorders, Secondary Nervous System Diseases Post-Traumatic Headache

Age range

40 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Modern University for Technology and Information

Cairo, Egypt

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Symptoms of mechanical neck pain lasting for more than three months
  • Skeletal muscle with a palpable taut band
  • Hypersensitive point inside the taut band with the ability to reproduce referred pain when the sensitive spot is palpated,
  • Joint soreness in at least one of the upper cervical spine's joints (c1-c3)
  • Unilateral discomfort that originates in the neck and radiates to the frontotemporal area
  • Pain that is made worse by moving the neck
  • Headaches that occur at least once a week for a duration longer than three months.

Exclusion criteria

  • Other primary headaches (i.e., migraine, tension-type headache)
  • Bilateral headaches,
  • Other defined cervical problem such as fracture, dislocation, skin disease, illness that is inflammatory, neural illness, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, a birth defect, tumor, or infection.

Treatment and study plan

Low dose shock wave therapy plus strengthening and stretching exercise for upper trapezius

Other

Patients will receive 2000 shocks, 1 bar (energy flux density 0.045 mj/mm2) at frequency 10 MHz on upper trapezius trigger points plus strengthening and stretching exercises for upper trapezius.

Medium dose shock wave therapy plus strengthening and stretching exercise for upper trapezius

Other

patients will receive 2000 shock with 4 bars (Energy flux density 0.18 mj/mm2) at frequency 10 MHz on upper trapezius trigger points plus strengthening and stretching for upper trapezius

sham shock wave therapy plus strengthening and stretching exercise for upper trapezius

Other

patients will receive 2000 shock with energy flus density 0.00 on upper trapezius trigger points plus strengthening and stretching exercise for upper trapezius.

Primary outcomes

  1. Henry Ford Hospital Headache disability inventory (HDI)

    Time frame: before the first session and after the last session (Four weeks)

  2. Upper trapezius electromyographic activity

    Time frame: before the first session and after the last session (Four weeks)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

MTI University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Dose Related Effects of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Upper Trapezius Trigger Points in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Nov 18, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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