Headaches
It's long been known that many types of headache sufferers respond very well to chiropractic care. Although, far less studied than low back pain, more studies are indicating the effectiveness of chiropractic for different types of headaches, (cervicogenic /neck dysfunction related, tension-type or migraine).

Chiropractic – Deemed An Effective Treatment for Cervicogenic Headaches
In a large study conducted in 2001 by Duke University's Evidence-Based Practice Center for Clinical Health Policy Research a goal was set to identify and summarize from controlled trials, the efficacy of behavioral and physical treatments for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches. Different studies from everything from traditional medical intervention, to acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, relaxation techniques and biofeedback were looked at.

Amongst many of the conclusions, the study summarized that: "If effective and available, non-pharmacological treatments may be the first choice for most patients and may also be well suited for the significant minority of patients who: (a) have poor tolerance of pharmacological treatments; (b) have medical contraindications for pharmacological treatments; (c) experience insufficient relief from, or are unresponsive to, pharmacological treatment; (d) wish to become pregnant (or are nursing); (e) have a history of long-term, frequent, or excessive use of analgesic or abortive medications that can aggravate headache problems; or (f) simply prefer to avoid medication use".

Conclusions With Regard to Chiropractic:

  • Cervical manipulation was associated with significant improvements in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache. 

  • Adverse effects are uncommon with manipulation, and this may be one of its appeals over drug treatment.

  • Manipulation is effective in patients with cervicogenic headaches...

McCrory DC, Penzien DB, Hasselblad V, Gray RN. Evidence Report: Behavioral and Physical Treatments for Tension-type and Cervicogenic Headache. Duke University Evidence-based Practice Center for Clinical Health Policy Research. - 2001

 
Surprise! Chiropractic Has a More Lasting Effect Compared to Drugs For the Treatment of Headaches
A study done at Northwestern Chiropractic College in 1995 of 150 headache sufferers compared the effectiveness of spinal manipulation and pharmaceutical treatment (amitriptyline) for chronic tension-type headaches. The results showed that compared to the group taking amitriptyline, the group receiving spinal manipulation showed a reduction of 32% headache intensity, 42% headache frequency, 30% in over-the-counter medication usage and an improvement of 16% in functional health status. By comparison the amitriptyline therapy group showed no improvement or a slight worsening from baseline values in the same major outcome measures and the group also reported a number of side effects from taking the medication.

Conclusion: Spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension type headaches. Amitriptyline therapy was slightly more effective in reducing pain at the end of the treatment period but was associated with more side effects. Four weeks after stopping treatment, however, the patients receiving spinal manipulative therapy experienced sustained therapeutic benefit in all major outcomes in contrast to patients that received amitriptyline therapy, who reverted to baseline values.

Boline P, Kassak K, Bronfort G, et al. Spinal Manipulation vs. amitriptyline for the treatment of chronic tension type headaches - a randomized clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther; 1995 18(3): 148-54

 
Chiropractic Alone Is Just As Effective For Migraine Headaches Compared To A Combined Approach
A study done at Northwestern Chiropractic College in 1998 of 218 patients with the diagnosis of migraine headache were measured via a headache index score derived from a daily headache pain diary during the last 4 weeks of treatment and during the 4 week follow-up period. The reduction in headache index scores during treatment compared with baseline was 49% for amitriptyline, 40% for spinal manipulation and 41% for the combined group. During the post-treatment follow-up period the reduction from baseline was 24% for amitriptyline, 42% for spinal manipulation and 25% for the combined group.

 

Conclusion: There was no advantage to combining amitriptyline and spinal manipulation for the treatment of migraine headache. Spinal manipulation seemed to be as effective as a well established and efficacious (amitriptyline), treatment option for patients with frequent migraine headaches. 

Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R, Boline P, Goldsmith C, Anderson AV. The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for the prophylaxis of migraine headaches. J Manipulative Physiol Ther; 1998 Oct;21(8): 511-9

 
Spinal Manipulation Has A Significant Positive Effect in Cases of Cervicogenic Headache
A study done at the University of Odense, Denmark of 53 cervicogenic headache sufferers as described by the International Headache Society looked at how soft tissue therapy and spinal manipulation affected analgesic use per day, headache intensity per episode and in number of headache hours per day. The use of analgesics decreased by 36% in the manipulation group, but was unchanged in the soft-tissue group. The number of headache hours per day decreased by 69% in the manipulation group, compared with 37% in the soft tissue group. Finally, headache intensity per episode decreased by 36% in the manipulation group, compared with 17% in the soft tissue group. 

Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J. The effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. J Manipulative Physiolo Ther; 1997 Jun; 20(5): 326-30.

 
Exercise and Manipulative Therapy Have a Lasting Effect On Reducing the Symptoms of Cervicogenic Hea
A study done in Australia of 200 headache suffers concluded that both manipulative therapy and specific exercises significantly reduced headache frequency and intensity, and the neck pain and effects were maintained. The combined therapies were not significantly superior to either therapy alone, but 10% more patients gained relief with the combination.

Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, Zito G, Niere K, Shirley D, Emberson J, Marschner I, Richardson C. A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine 2002 Sep 1; 7(17) : 1835 -43; discussion 1843

 

Login Form





Lost Password?
No account yet? Register
Admin