OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of upper cervical translatoric spinal mobilization (UC-TSM) on cervical mobility and pressure pain threshold in subjects with cervicogenic headache (CEH). METHODS: Eighty-two volunteers (41.54 +/- 15.29 years, 20 male and 62 female) with CEH participated in the study and were randomly divided into the control and treatment groups. The treatment group received UC-TSM and the control group remained in the same position for the same time as the UC-TSM group, but received no treatment. Cervical mobility (active cervical mobility and flexion-rotation test), pressure pain thresholds over upper trapezius muscles, C2 to 3 zygapophyseal joints and suboccipital muscles, and current headache intensity (visual analog scale) were measured before and immediately after the intervention by 2 blinded investigators. RESULTS: After the intervention, UC-TSM group exhibited significant increases in total cervical mobility (p = 0.002, d = 0.16) and the flexion-rotation test (p < 0.001, d = 0.81 to 0.85). No significant difference in cervical pressure pain thresholds were observed between groups (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, there was a significantly lower intensity of headache in the UC-TSM group (p = 0.039, d = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Upper cervical translatoric spinal mobilization intervention increased upper, and exhibited a tendency to improve general, cervical range of motion and induce immediate headache relief in subjects with CEH.
Reprinted from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics with copyright permission from the National University of Health Sciences.

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