Therapeutic Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Acupressure Therapy Among Patients With Cervicogenic Headache (headache)

National Health Care Center (NHC) The Doctors Plaza Physical Therapy

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cervicogenic Headache

Treatments: Other: Acupressure; Other: Hot Pack; Other: DRY NEEDLING; Other: Dry needling and Acupressure therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07192497

LUC/CPGS/PDFRA/PDA20250530/001 (Registry Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a pre-test and post-test design will be conducted to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of Dry Needling (DN), Acupressure Therapy (AT), and their combination (DN + AT) against a control group receiving Hot Pack Therapy in patients diagnosed with Cervicogenic Headache (CH).

This study follows the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines to ensure methodological transparency and rigor. The trial design includes:

• Randomization: Participants will be randomly assigned into four study groups.
• Blinding: A single-blind approach will be used, where participants are unaware of their group allocation, while the researchers administering the intervention will be aware.
• Follow-up Period: Pre-assessment at baseline, post-intervention assessment, and 2-week follow-up.
• Data Analysis: Standardized assessment tools will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of each intervention.

Full description

Study Duration Total Duration: 1 year Intervention Period: 2 weeks Follow-Up: Pre-test, post-test, and 2-week follow-up Intervention Procedures

1. Group A (Dry Needling Therapy - DN)

   • 06 sessions over 2 weeks
   • Needling sites: Myofascial trigger points in cervical muscles
   • Session duration: 20-30 minutes
   • Post-treatment: Cryotherapy (5 minutes)

2. Group B (Acupressure Therapy - AT)

   • 06 sessions over 2 weeks
   • Pressure applied to cervical acupressure points
   • Post-treatment: Cryotherapy (10 minutes)

3. Group C (Combined Therapy - DN + AT)

   • 06 sessions over 2 weeks
   • Both DN and AT applied in sequence
   • Post-treatment: Cryotherapy (10-15 minutes)

4. Group D (Control - Hot Pack Therapy)

   • 06 sessions over 2 weeks
   • 15-minute heat therapy per session
   • No active intervention

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Male and female patients aged 20 to 50 years Diagnosed with Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) based on International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria Chronic CGH symptoms (i.e., persisting for at least 3 months) No previous dry needling (DN) or acupressure therapy (AT) within the last 6 months Able and willing to provide informed consent and comply with treatment and follow-up protocols

Exclusion Criteria: History of cervical spine surgery, significant trauma, or vertebral tumors/neoplasms Congenital spinal deformities (e.g., scoliosis, spina bifida) Diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy, vestibular disorders, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, or cervical fractures Current use of anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or analgesics that may affect pain perception Diagnosed neurological, musculoskeletal, or orthopaedic conditions that affect balance, gait, or functional mobility Pregnancy (optional, often excluded in physiotherapy/dry needling trials)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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80 participants in 4 patient groups

Group A - Dry Needling (n=20)

Experimental group

Description:

Dry needling at Myofascial trigger points

Treatment:

Other: DRY NEEDLING

Group B- Acupressure (n=20)

Experimental group

Description:

Manual pressure applied at cervical and shoulder acupressure points

Treatment:

Other: Acupressure

Group C - Dry needling and Acupressure (n=20)

Experimental group

Description:

Dry needling and acupressure therapy will be applied in the same session

Treatment:

Other: Dry needling and Acupressure therapy

Control Group D - Hot Pack (n=20)

Experimental group

Description:

Passive heat therapy applied to the cervical spine

Treatment:

Other: Hot Pack