Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07373912

Impact of Adding Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization to Mulligan Therapy in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache

this study will be conducted to investigate the impact of adding Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization technique to mulligan therapy in patients with cervicogenic headache

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Cervicogenic headache (CGH) has seen a notable rise in prevalence in recent years, substantially impairing patients' daily functioning and occupational productivity. Despite its considerable burden, CGH remains frequently underdiagnosed and inadequately managed, often progressing to a chronic state that heightens the risk of work absenteeism and long-term disability and as the most common type of pain disorders, affecting 66% of the global population, represent a major public health concern due to their detrimental impact on quality of life and economic productivity . Epidemiological data indicate that CGH affects 4.1% of the general population, with prevalence escalating to 17.5% among individuals with severe headaches.Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization using Graston (GT®) tool is regarded as one the most advanced and promising methods ,utilizing a specially designed instrument to adress a variety of soft tissue pathologies such as myofascial adhesions , scar tissue restriction , tissue thickenings, ridges, fibrotic nodules, crystalline deposits . this technique works by generating a mobilizing effect ,which contributes to pain reduction ,enhanced range of motion and improved overall function.The Mulligan manual technique is considered one of the most effective forms of manipulations. In contrast to conventional mobilization, which depends entirely on the therapist, Mulligan proposed that applying pressure to the spinous processes while the patient is in a weight-bearing position would cause the facet joints to glide in a coordinated ,parallel direction . simultaneously ,this approach involve the patient's active participation during movemwnt in order to achieve the perfect therapeutic outcomes

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

-Unilateral CGH presentation

  • Age group above 18 years' old
  • History of chronic CGH (>3 months)
  • CGH owing to cervical spine (neck) dysfunction
  • Reduced cervical motion
  • Neck stiffness and movement restriction

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants with other types of headache (migraine headache)
  • Headache owing to other causes (sinus, tumor, neural, and tempero-mandibular joint issues)
  • Any contraindications to manual and manipulative therapy (fracture, instability, osteoporosis and neural symptoms)
  • Taking analgesics or corticosteroids and migraine-specific medications, such as triptans
  • Metastasis
  • Cardiac conditions (stroke and syncope)
  • Neurological conditions (radiculopathy, myelopathy)

Treatment and study plan

instrumeted assissted soft tissue mobilization and mulligan therapy

Other

the patients will receive IASTM tools over the length of targeted muscles (descending fiber of trapezius, suboccipitalis muscles ) for 5 minutes. also, SNAG technique; Each patient will be asked to sit comfortably, and the treating therapist will stand beside the patient. The patient's head will be free and cradled between the therapist's right forearm and body, and the therapist stand at the patient's right side. The therapist then will place his right index, middle, and ring fingers at the base of the occiput and kept his right little finger over the spinous process of C2. Next, with the lateral border of his left thenar eminence, gentle pressure will be applied in a ventral and upward direction(45 degrees) over the right little finger. finally postural correction execises

mulligan therapy

Other

SNAG technique; Each patient will be asked to sit comfortably, and the treating therapist will stand beside the patient. The patient's head will be free and cradled between the therapist's right forearm and body, and the therapist stand at the patient's right side. The therapist then will place his right index, middle, and ring fingers at the base of the occiput and kept his right little finger over the spinous process of C2. Next, with the lateral border of his left thenar eminence, gentle pressure will be applied in a ventral and upward direction(45 degrees) over the right little finger. Finally, postural correction exercises will be addedd

postural correction exercises

Other

the exercises will incluse, Stretching exercises for the sternocleidomastoids,the Scalenes,upper fibers of trapezius and strengthening exercises for cervical muscles

Primary outcomes

  1. neck disability

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

    Assessment of neck function was performed by Arabic neck disability index. It is a valid and reliable tool in the assessment of neck function. It contains ten category/classes. Each category contains six choices (zero-five).Score from zero to four no disability, from five to 15 this is mild, From 15 to 24 this is moderate, from 25 to 34 this is severe, more than 34 this is a complete disability

Secondary outcomes

  1. pain intensity

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

    The scale will be used is the VAS, which consists of a line, usually 10 cm long, ranging from no pain or discomfort (zero) , to the worst pain that could possibly feel (10)

  2. cervical range of motion

    Time frame: up to six weeks

    The CROM device will be used to assess cervical range of motion. it is headmounted equipment consists of a plastic frame placed on the head over the nose and the ears, secured by a Velcro strap. Two independent inclinometers, 1 in the sagittal plane and 1 in the frontal plane, are attached to the frame and indicate the position of the head with respect to the line of gravity. A third inclinometer is positioned in the horizontal plane and indicates the position of the head in rotation, with respect to a reference position

  3. muscle stiffness

    Time frame: up to six weeks

    The MyotonPRO (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia) is a recently introduced device that can objectively measure the mechanical properties of muscles including analyzing muccsle stiffness (N/m).

    The measurement procedure involved pressing the device against the skin, with a force of 0.18 N and instantly applying an impulse of 0.4 N for duration of 15 ms. The skin surface oscillation induced by the\\ MyotonPRO was measured

  4. headache frequency

    Time frame: up to six weeks

    the number of days the subjects experienced headaches (frequency)

  5. headache duration

    Time frame: up to six weeks

    the total number of hours they experienced headaches (duration)

  6. medication intake

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

    The frequency with which they used painkillers (medication intake) for their headaches were also noted

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

doaa youssef, master

CONTACT

[email protected]

01113279369

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cairo University

Other

Registry information

Acronym: CGH

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 28, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 28, 2026

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.