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Manual therapy and exercise for patients with cluster headache
Lucía de-la-Puente-Ranea1,2, Alfonso Gil-Martínez1,3,4,2, Oscar Rodríguez-Lopez5,2
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
EXCLI Journal
|June 28, 2021
Summary
Physiotherapy may reduce cluster headache frequency. This case series suggests manual therapy and exercise can complement neurological treatment, improving headache impact and reducing pain catastrophizing.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Cluster headache is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by severe, unilateral head pain.
- Current management often involves pharmacological treatments, but adjunctive therapies are being explored.
Observation:
- A case series involving seven patients with cluster headache was conducted.
- Patients received physiotherapy, including manual therapy and exercise, alongside their prescribed pharmacological treatments.
- Outcome measures included headache frequency, intensity, duration, pressure pain thresholds, and psychological variables, assessed over four months.
Findings:
- Two patients experienced a >50% reduction in headache frequency, and one had a 16.67% decrease.
- No significant changes were observed in headache duration or intensity.
- Six out of seven patients reported an improved impact of headache, with decreased pain catastrophizing correlating with reduced headache frequency.
Implications:
- Physiotherapy, incorporating manual therapy and exercise, may serve as a safe and effective complementary treatment for reducing cluster headache frequency in the short term.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration between physiotherapists and neurologists is crucial for optimizing patient care.
- Further research is warranted to explore the long-term efficacy and mechanisms of physiotherapy in cluster headache management.
