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14-Day Aromatherapy Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Shu-Cheng Lin1, Ho-Cheng Chen, Kuo-Wei Lee
1Author Affiliations: School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (Dr Lin); Teacher Education Center, Tainan University of Technology, Tainan, Taiwan (Dr Chen); Center for the Liberal Arts, College of General Education, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Dr Lee); Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania (Ms Yeh); and Natural Therapy and Regimen Health Promotion Association, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Mrs Chang).
Aromatherapy massage significantly improved pain relief and daily function for cervicogenic headache patients. However, it did not enhance neck muscle endurance in this 14-day study.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Neurology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Cervicogenic headaches (CGHs) are a common condition with limited established treatment protocols.
- The efficacy of aromatherapy for CGHs remains under-investigated, necessitating further research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a 14-day aromatherapy intervention on pain, functional status, and neck muscle endurance in patients with CGHs.
- To compare the effects of aromatherapy massage (AM) versus placebo massage in managing CGH symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A pretest-posttest randomized controlled trial was conducted with 24 patients diagnosed with CGHs.
- Participants received daily 15-minute aromatherapy inhalations and 5-minute cervical muscle applications for 14 days, or a placebo intervention.
- Outcome measures included the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form and neck flexion endurance tests.
Main Results:
- The aromatherapy massage group demonstrated significant improvements in pain reduction and quality of life scores.
- No significant increase in neck flexion endurance was observed in the aromatherapy group compared to placebo.
- The intervention was well-tolerated by participants.
Conclusions:
- Fourteen days of aromatherapy massage is an effective intervention for alleviating pain and enhancing life function in patients suffering from cervicogenic headaches.
- Aromatherapy shows promise as a complementary therapy for managing CGH symptoms, though its effect on neck muscle endurance requires further investigation.
