Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06733896

SCM Muscle Released in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache

Sternocleidomastoid syndrome is often characterized by referred pain in other areas. Like all muscles, the SCM can develop tight, and non-contracting bands called trigger points that can refer pain elsewhere. For the SCM, the trigger point referral areas are the eye and forehead, the back of the head (occiput), front of the neck, cheek, and side of the head. Trigger points can be treated by direct manual massage, dry needling, or platelet-poor plasma injection.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Cervicogenic Headache Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Headache Headache Disorders Headache Disorders, Secondary Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Post-Traumatic Headache Signs and Symptoms

Age range

25 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Umm Al Qura University

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

About this study

Cervicogenic headache is a specific type of headache that originates from the cervical spine and is typically chronic in nature. Diagnostic criteria for CGH have been established by the International Headache Society (IHS) and are cited extensively in the literature. Diagnosis of CGH through manual examination is a more recent practice. To our knowledge, no systematic review of manual diagnosis of CGH has been performed.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • History of CGH ≥ 3 months at Baseline 1, ≥5 days of CGH per month
  • CGH intensity ≥3 (0-10 scale)
  • Cervical spine dysfunction (cervical joint tenderness and/or restricted segmental motion)
  • Clear temporal sequence linking the source of CGH to the neck: headache preceded by neck pain, stiffness, movement and/or awkward postures

Exclusion criteria

  • Other headaches within one year of enrollment (e.g. migraine occurring on >1 day per month in the last year, medication overuse, daily, cluster, temporomandibular joint dysfunction related headaches, sinus, posttraumatic, tumor and glaucoma related, occipital neuralgia, metabolic/toxic/substance abuse related).
  • Spinal manipulative therapy, massage or exercise therapy for neck pain or headaches in the previous 3 months. Any other types of care by a licensed provider in the previous month for headaches or neck pain
  • Contraindications to study treatments (e.g., inflammatory arthropathies, cervical instability, severe osteoporosis, vertigo, dizziness)
  • Daily prescription or nonprescription pain medication; corticosteroid use in previous month
  • Cancer in the past five years
  • ear problem

Treatment and study plan

trigger point pressure

Other

The midpoint of the sternocleidomastoid muscle with abundant nerve distribution and the onset and endpoint of the sternocleidomastoid muscle were used as acupoints, which can relieve localised muscle spasms and promote nerve nutrition.

neck exercises

Other

Manual Cervical Traction Technique and others

Primary outcomes

  1. cervical neck pain

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    visual analogue scale: This pain scale is most commonly used. A person rates their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 or 0 to 5. Zero means "no pain," and 5 or 10 means "the worst possible pain."

    These pain intensity levels may be assessed upon initial treatment, or periodically after treatment.

Secondary outcomes

  1. biodex balance system

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    assessment of posture stability, level eight was selected on the (the most stable level), then the dynamic limit of stability testing mode was selected and then the data of each patient were inserted into the device. The patient was instructed to try to achieve a centered position on the platform by moving their feet, once the platform was programmed to move. Visual feedback was provided on screen, with the cursor moving in relation to the feedback from the patients' feet. Once the cursor had been centered, the platform was kept level beneath the patient's feet while the patient was standing in a comfortable upright position

  2. neck stability index

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    It is patient-completed, condition-specific functional status questionnaire with 10 items including pain, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleeping and recreation, each item scored with a possible 0-5 value with the larger number indicating a higher self-reported disability status. The score on this questionnaire can range from 0-50. In order to calculate a percentage, simply multiply the final value by two

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Pressure Points in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 13, 2024
Registry last updated
Feb 11, 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.

Related clinical trials

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