High Power Laser on Suboccipital Myoelectrical Activities and Quality of Life in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache

NCT ID: NCT06803186

Last Updated: 2025-02-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

40 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-01-31

Study Completion Date

2025-05-15

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The study will be conducted:

To investigate the effect of high-power laser on myoelectrical activities of suboccipital muscles in patients with cervicogenic headache.

* To investigate the effect of high-power laser on pain in patients with cervicogenic headache.
* To investigate the effect of high-power laser on quality of life in patients with cervicogenic headache.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Cervicogenic headache is a classification of headache in which pain is referred from the cervical spine. This category of headache is typically chronic, presented as unilateral cephalgia, spreading over the occipital, temporal, and frontal regions and is believed to be caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction of the neck.

In high-power laser therapy (HPLT) there is an increase in mitochondrial oxidative reaction and adenosine phosphate (photobiology effect). The pain-releasing effect of HPLT is provided by reducing the transmission of painful stimuli and increased morphine mimetic factors. It has rapidly induced photochemical and photothermal effects, increasing blood flow, cell metabolism, and vascular permeability.

In a recent study on exercise for cervicogenic headache, Subjects reported significant decreases in the frequency, intensity, and duration of their headaches.

To our knowledge there is no study was found to investigate the effect of high-power laser therapy (HPLT) on myoelectrical activities of suboccipital muscles, pain and functional activities in patients with cervicogenic headache.

So, this study aimed to determine the effect of high power laser therapy (HPLT) on myoelectrical activities of suboccipital muscles , pain and quality of life in patients with cervicogenic headache.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Cervicogenic Headache

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

High power laser therapy and conventional physical therapy program

The participants will receive high power laser therapy (HPLT) for 15 minutes in addition to a conventional physical therapy program (therapeutic exercise) for 45 minutes three a week for six weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

High-power laser therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

High power laser therapy (HPLT) with a neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet laser with a pulsating waveform produced by a ( Hilterapia device , ASA, Arcugnano, Vicenza, Italy). It will be set at the following parameters: Nd:YAG laser with pulsed emission (1064 nm), very high peak powers with average power 6 W, high levels of fluency (760 mJ/cm energy density), short pulse duration (250 μs), low frequency (10-40 Hz), and 5-cm probe diameter for 15 minutes.

The scanning will be performed longitudinally \&transversely from the C3 to C7 posterior neck in the paraspinal region, upper back, inter-scapular area, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid muscles, and posterior \& lateral shoulder areas

Conventional physical therapy program

Intervention Type OTHER

A specific program of 45-min exercise of three sessions a week for six weeks for a total of 18 sessions. Corrective exercises will be performed initially by stretching exercises for(suboccipital, upper trapezeius, scalene, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major/minor muscles) will be given four repetitions with 30 second hold. each with 3 seconds rest between each stretch Then, strengthening exercises will be performed initially in an isometric manner for weak muscles (deep cervical flexors, rhomboidus, and lower trapezeius muscles) will be done initially without weight and afterward by using Theraband and dumbells. All patients will be instructed to achieve three sets of 12 repetitions of the strengthening exercises (isometrics exercises) with 1 to 2 minutes rest in between each set. Contraction will be held for 5 seconds/repetitions. 10-20 repetitions for strengthening exercises and 3 sets of 30 repetitions for endurance exercise

Placebo high power laser therapy and conventional physical therapy program

The participants will receive placebo high power laser therapy (HPLT) for 15 minutes in addition to a conventional physical therapy program (therapeutic exercise) for 45 minutes three a week for six weeks.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Placebo (PL) high power laser

Intervention Type DEVICE

laser probe scanning will be applied to the same areas as that applied in the HPLT procedure. PL will be applied while the lights of the device will be on, with no current flowing through the device. Placebo therapy will be applied at the same frequency as HPLT (Three sessions a week for six weeks for a total of 18 sessions; one session will be lasted 15 minutes).

Conventional physical therapy program

Intervention Type OTHER

A specific program of 45-min exercise of three sessions a week for six weeks for a total of 18 sessions. Corrective exercises will be performed initially by stretching exercises for(suboccipital, upper trapezeius, scalene, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major/minor muscles) will be given four repetitions with 30 second hold. each with 3 seconds rest between each stretch Then, strengthening exercises will be performed initially in an isometric manner for weak muscles (deep cervical flexors, rhomboidus, and lower trapezeius muscles) will be done initially without weight and afterward by using Theraband and dumbells. All patients will be instructed to achieve three sets of 12 repetitions of the strengthening exercises (isometrics exercises) with 1 to 2 minutes rest in between each set. Contraction will be held for 5 seconds/repetitions. 10-20 repetitions for strengthening exercises and 3 sets of 30 repetitions for endurance exercise

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

High-power laser therapy

High power laser therapy (HPLT) with a neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet laser with a pulsating waveform produced by a ( Hilterapia device , ASA, Arcugnano, Vicenza, Italy). It will be set at the following parameters: Nd:YAG laser with pulsed emission (1064 nm), very high peak powers with average power 6 W, high levels of fluency (760 mJ/cm energy density), short pulse duration (250 μs), low frequency (10-40 Hz), and 5-cm probe diameter for 15 minutes.

The scanning will be performed longitudinally \&transversely from the C3 to C7 posterior neck in the paraspinal region, upper back, inter-scapular area, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid muscles, and posterior \& lateral shoulder areas

Intervention Type DEVICE

Placebo (PL) high power laser

laser probe scanning will be applied to the same areas as that applied in the HPLT procedure. PL will be applied while the lights of the device will be on, with no current flowing through the device. Placebo therapy will be applied at the same frequency as HPLT (Three sessions a week for six weeks for a total of 18 sessions; one session will be lasted 15 minutes).

Intervention Type DEVICE

Conventional physical therapy program

A specific program of 45-min exercise of three sessions a week for six weeks for a total of 18 sessions. Corrective exercises will be performed initially by stretching exercises for(suboccipital, upper trapezeius, scalene, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major/minor muscles) will be given four repetitions with 30 second hold. each with 3 seconds rest between each stretch Then, strengthening exercises will be performed initially in an isometric manner for weak muscles (deep cervical flexors, rhomboidus, and lower trapezeius muscles) will be done initially without weight and afterward by using Theraband and dumbells. All patients will be instructed to achieve three sets of 12 repetitions of the strengthening exercises (isometrics exercises) with 1 to 2 minutes rest in between each set. Contraction will be held for 5 seconds/repetitions. 10-20 repetitions for strengthening exercises and 3 sets of 30 repetitions for endurance exercise

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Patients suffering from cervicogenic headache based on international headache society "IHS" criteria for cervicogenic headache.
* Unilateral cervical radiculopathy (Upper cervical C1 -C4).
* Age ranged from 30 to 50 years.
* Neck pain referring unilaterally to suboccipital region.
* The pain and restriction in C1-C2 rotation by Cervical Flexion-Rotation Test (FRT )
* Intensifying headache by manual pressure to upper cervical muscles and joints.
* Experiencing headache at least once per week for the last 6 months.
* Patients will be referred by neurological consultants.
* Body mass index (18.5 - 29. 9 Kg/m2).
* Moderate (45-74) to severe (75-100) neck pain on the visual analogue scale.

Exclusion Criteria

* Cervical myelopathy, cervical instability, cervical fracture cervical surgery with evidence of pyramidal, posterior column disorders.
* History of any neurologic disease ( stroke, MS , cerebellar disorders , vestibular dysfunction and neuropathy )Pregnant or breastfeeding women
* Other types of headaches (migraine - cluster headaches- tension headache)
* Patients of systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
* contraindication to high-power Laser such as:
* Wounds or skin changes in the neck or shoulder region (such as psoriasis, scars, or burns).
* Photosensitivity diagnosis.
* Tumors of some type have been diagnosed in the last 5 years.
* Presence of solar urticaria or adverse reactions to sunlight.
Minimum Eligible Age

30 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Cairo University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Ahmed Karem Youssef Tawfik

Principal investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Shehab Khadrawy, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Al-Azhar University

Asharaf A. Abdelmoneim, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Cairo University

Abd El-Aleem A Attia, professor

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Cairo University

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Ahmed Karem Youssef Tawfik

Cairo, , Egypt

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Egypt

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Ahmed K youssef, PHD

Role: CONTACT

+201060638274

Mohamed H. Marzouk, PHD

Role: CONTACT

+201286162908

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

P.T.REC/012/005470

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Mangement of Cervicogenic Headache by Maual Therapy
NCT07310823 ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION NA