Manual therapy and exercise for patients with cluster headache

Authors

  • Lucía de-la-Puente-Ranea Departamento de Fisioterapia, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Rehabilitación Funcional, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Madrid, Spain
  • Alfonso Gil-Martínez Unidad de Fisioterapia, Hospital Universitario La Paz. Paseo de la Castellana, 261. 28046. Madrid. Spain; Tel.: + 0034 666137908; E-mail: fongilmar@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0115-088X
  • Óscar Rodríguez-López Departamento de Fisioterapia, CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Rehabilitación Funcional, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Madrid, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9716-8488
  • Pablo González-Gutiérrez Departamento de Fisioterapia, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • María Ángeles Mangas-Guijarro Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
  • Gonzalo Navarro-Fernández Departamento de Fisioterapia, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; CranioSPain Research Group, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Rehabilitación Funcional, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Madrid, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8402-2965

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3763

Keywords:

disability, manual therapy, exercise, cluster headache, pain, physiotherapy

Abstract

The aim of this case series is to clarify if a physiotherapy program can reduce the frequency, intensity and duration of the headache episodes in patients with cluster headache. A 7-case series with cluster headache patients was conducted. Every subject received physiotherapy treatment based on manual therapy and exercise, maintaining pharmacological treatment prescribed by the neurologist.  Frequency, intensity and duration of the episodes, pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and psychological variables were measured 5 times:  pre-intervention, post-intervention, 1 month follow-up, 2 months follow-up and 3 months follow-up. Two of the seven subjects decreased their frequency of headaches over 50 % and another in 16,67 %. There were no significant changes in duration or intensity. Results also showed an improvement in impact of headache in 6 of 7 cases. Those cases that decreased more their headache frequency also decreased their pain catastrophizing. A program of physiotherapy based in manual therapy and exercise, might be an effective and safe complement to decrease the frequency of the episodes of CH in short-term (4 months follow-up) including interdisciplinary working with neurologists and other health care professionals.

Published

2021-05-25

How to Cite

de-la-Puente-Ranea, L., Gil-Martínez, A., Rodríguez-López, Óscar, González-Gutiérrez, P., Mangas-Guijarro, M. Ángeles, & Navarro-Fernández, G. (2021). Manual therapy and exercise for patients with cluster headache. EXCLI Journal, 20, 948–955. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3763

Issue

Section

Case reports

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