Background: Headache isone of the most prevalent conditions in the world, headaches can cause significant impairment in every day activity. Common headache conditions including migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and cervicogenic headache (CGH) have a detrimental effect on one's quality of life (QOL), ability to function at work, and family life. As a result, they can directly or indirectly burden society financially.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cervical sensorimotor control training on pain, disability and dynamic balance in patients with CGH.
Subjects and methods: 50 patients of both genders were suffering from CGH, randomized into 2 groups 25 patients each: Group A and B respectively. Group A was rehabilitated with cervical sensorimotor training program including gaze direction recognition exercise (GDRE), cervical joint Reposition Exercises (CJRE) and stabilizer pressure biofeedback (SPB) in addition to conventional physical therapy program. Group B received only conventional physical therapy program. The intervention consisted of three weekly therapy sessions for three weeks. The outcome measures included in this study were the Biodex Balance Index, Neck Disability Index, and Numerical Pain Scale. Measurements were made right before, during, and four weeks following treatment.
Results: There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference in the improvement of outcome measures between the two groups when comparing post-intervention averages at four weeks of treatment. Subjects in Group A had a higher percentage of improvement than those in Group B.
Conclusions: The cervical sensorimotor training program, when paired with standard cervical treatment, showed a considerable favorable effect on pain, disability, and dynamic balance.