The utilization of dry needling and an upper extremity exercise program for individuals with cervicogenic headaches: A pilot study

ABSTRACT

Objective

To investigate whether a combination of dry-needling treatments and upper extremity neuromuscular reeducation exercises can significantly improve neck pain and/or headache-related disability, joint position error, cervical range of motion, and pain pressure threshold in individuals suffering from cervicogenic headache (CGH).

Methods

This study is a quasi-experimental design. Seven participants met the inclusion criteria and received dry needling to three muscles that reproduced the participant’s headache symptoms and completed the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Headache Disability Inventory (HDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Participants performed an exercise regimen designed to address strength and mobility of cervical and scapulothoracic musculature.

Results

There were significant improvements seen in cervical range of motion and neck pain-related disability (NDI) during the 4-week treatment period.

Conclusion

Dry needling and neuromuscular re-education (NMR) exercises could be effective components of treatment for individuals suffering from CGH to reduce disability and pain.

KEYWORDS:

• Dry needling
• cervicogenic headache
• neck disability index
• headache disability index
• cervical range of motion
• stretching

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Jake Schmidt for his assistance with data collection.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in any material discussed in this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.