MigraineMIGSKANCT07626307
Evaluation of the Performance of the Doraldo-Castelletti Scale in Supporting the Neurologist's Decision to Refer Migraine Patients to Physiotherapy
A study testing Doraldo-Castelletti scale in people with Migraine, run by Istituto Auxologico Italiano at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
Migraine is the leading cause of disability worldwide among people aged 15 to 49. Although therapies targeting the CGRP pathway have improved the management of the condition, there are large groups of patients who do not respond to medications or for whom these are contraindicated. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Migraine
- What is being tested?
- Doraldo-Castelletti scale
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 439 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 20 Nov 2025to 1 Oct 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 70 years (inclusive)
- Diagnosis of migraine established by a neurologist specialized in headache disorders
- Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) ≥ 42
- Ability to understand the study informed consent
- Signed informed consent
- Ability to comply with the study procedures
Who cannot join
- Neurological diseases confounding the primary objective
- Conditions confounding the primary objective (e.g., fibromyalgia, which could limit patient evaluation by the physiotherapist)
- Previous physiotherapy treatments specifically for headache management
- Psychiatric disorders confounding and/or interfering with the primary objective
- Unstable psychiatric illness, cognitive impairment, dementia, or substance abuse compromising the participant's ability to provide informed consent, according to the investigator's judgment
- Previous neurosurgical interventions involving the cervical region
- Any condition deemed contraindicating study participation according to the investigator's judgment
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Italy1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Istituto Auxologico Italiano
Milan, 20149
Alberto Doretti, MD, +39-0261911 ext. 2937, a.doretti@auxologico.it
neurotrial@auxologico.it
About this study
Official title: Multicenter Interventional Study for the Evaluation of the Performance of the Doraldo-Castelletti Scale in Supporting the Neurologist's Decision to Refer Migraine Patients to Physiotherapy (MIGSKA)
Migraine is the leading cause of disability worldwide among people aged 15 to 49. Although therapies targeting the CGRP pathway have improved the management of the condition, there are large groups of patients who do not respond to medications or for whom these are contraindicated. In this context, non-pharmacological therapies such as physical therapy play a crucial role.
The scientific literature highlights a strong link between migraine and cervical disorders:
Read more
- 77% of migraine patients suffer from neck pain.
- 93% have at least three musculoskeletal dysfunctions in the cervical region.
- Patients with cervical symptoms experience more frequent attacks, greater disability, a poorer response to medication, and a higher risk of chronicity.
Despite the proven utility of physical therapy for the prevention and treatment of migraine (as demonstrated by validated physical tests and standardized questionnaires such as the NDI, HDI, and HIT-6), musculoskeletal screening is not routinely included in neurological examinations. Neurologists in headache centers generally lack the time and specific manual skills required to perform a thorough physical assessment of the cervical spine.
There is therefore a lack of a rapid and effective screening tool that serves as a "bridge" between neurology and rehabilitation.
The primary objective of the MIGSKA study is to evaluate the performance of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale in assessing the clinical need and motivation of patients with migraine to undergo physical therapy. The study will also assess the utility of this scale as a decision-making tool for neurologists in referring appropriate patients to physical therapists.
To address this gap in clinical practice, the study analyzes the Doraldo-Castelletti scale. The adoption of this tool aims to:
- Easily identify migraine patients with significant musculoskeletal dysfunction.
- Quantify the patient's attitude and motivation toward manual therapy (a determining factor for treatment success).
- Provide the neurologist with an objective and rapid criterion for prescribing a specialized physical therapy evaluation, promoting a genuine and effective multidisciplinary approach to migraine care.
Read the detailed description
Migraine is the leading cause of disability worldwide among people aged 15 to 49. Although therapies targeting the CGRP pathway have improved the management of the condition, there are large groups of patients who do not respond to medications or for whom these are contraindicated. In this context, non-pharmacological therapies such as physical therapy play a crucial role.
The scientific literature highlights a strong link between migraine and cervical disorders:
- 77% of migraine patients suffer from neck pain.
- 93% have at least three musculoskeletal dysfunctions in the cervical region.
- Patients with cervical symptoms experience more frequent attacks, greater disability, a poorer response to medication, and a higher risk of chronicity.
Despite the proven utility of physical therapy for the prevention and treatment of migraine (as demonstrated by validated physical tests and standardized questionnaires such as the NDI, HDI, and HIT-6), musculoskeletal screening is not routinely included in neurological examinations. Neurologists in headache centers generally lack the time and specific manual skills required to perform a thorough physical assessment of the cervical spine.
There is therefore a lack of a rapid and effective screening tool that serves as a "bridge" between neurology and rehabilitation.
The primary objective of the MIGSKA study is to evaluate the performance of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale in assessing the clinical need and motivation of patients with migraine to undergo physical therapy. The study will also assess the utility of this scale as a decision-making tool for neurologists in referring appropriate patients to physical therapists.
To address this gap in clinical practice, the study analyzes the Doraldo-Castelletti scale. The adoption of this tool aims to:
- Easily identify migraine patients with significant musculoskeletal dysfunction.
- Quantify the patient's attitude and motivation toward manual therapy (a determining factor for treatment success).
- Provide the neurologist with an objective and rapid criterion for prescribing a specialized physical therapy evaluation, promoting a genuine and effective multidisciplinary approach to migraine care.
- Conditions
- Migraine
- Being tested
- Doraldo-Castelletti scale
- Keywords
- Migraine, Physiotherapy, Neurology visit, Doraldo-Castelletti scale, Headache Impact Test, Neck Disability Index
- Medical subject headings
- Migraine Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Doraldo-Castelletti scaleOther
During a routine neurological examination, the physician administers the Doraldo-Castelletti scale to the migraine patient. The scale consists of 10 multiple choice questions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Doraldo Castelletti scale | Experimental | Migraine patients are the targeted population for administration of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale during a neurological visit Receives: Other: Doraldo-Castelletti scale |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Score of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale
Scale consisting of 10 multiple choice questions; Minimum score = 0; Maximum score = 13
Measured: At baseline
Proportion of patients referred to physiotherapist
Proportion of patients referred to physiotherapist on the basis of the score of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale
Measured: At baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Jun 2026
- Study start20 Nov 2025
- Primary completion1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MigraineStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Istituto Auxologico ItalianoThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 439 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07626307
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 23C513
- Acronym
- MIGSKA
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 29 May 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Multicenter Interventional Study for the Evaluation of the Performance of the Doraldo-Castelletti Scale in Supporting the Neurologist's Decision to Refer Migraine Patients to Physiotherapy (MIGSKA)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07626307
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MIGSKA / 23C513
- Conditions
- Migraine
- Keywords
- Migraine, Physiotherapy, Neurology visit, Doraldo-Castelletti scale, Headache Impact Test, Neck Disability Index
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 439 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istituto Auxologico ItalianoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Migraine is the leading cause of disability worldwide among people aged 15 to 49. Although therapies targeting the CGRP pathway have improved the management of the condition, there are large groups of patients who do not respond to medications or for whom these are contraindicated. In this context, non-pharmacological therapies such as physical therapy play a crucial role.
The scientific literature highlights a strong link between migraine and cervical disorders:
- 77% of migraine patients suffer from neck pain.
- 93% have at least three musculoskeletal dysfunctions in the cervical region.
- Patients with cervical symptoms experience more frequent attacks, greater disability, a poorer response to medication, and a higher risk of chronicity.
Despite the proven utility of physical therapy for the prevention and treatment of migraine (as demonstrated by validated physical tests and standardized questionnaires such as the NDI, HDI, and HIT-6), musculoskeletal screening is not routinely included in neurological examinations. Neurologists in headache centers generally lack the time and specific manual skills required to perform a thorough physical assessment of the cervical spine.
There is therefore a lack of a rapid and effective screening tool that serves as a "bridge" between neurology and rehabilitation.
The primary objective of the MIGSKA study is to evaluate the performance of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale in assessing the clinical need and motivation of patients with migraine to undergo physical therapy. The study will also assess the utility of this scale as a decision-making tool for neurologists in referring appropriate patients to physical therapists.
To address this gap in clinical practice, the study analyzes the Doraldo-Castelletti scale. The adoption of this tool aims to:
- Easily identify migraine patients with significant musculoskeletal dysfunction.
- Quantify the patient's attitude and motivation toward manual therapy (a determining factor for treatment success).
- Provide the neurologist with an objective and rapid criterion for prescribing a specialized physical therapy evaluation, promoting a genuine and effective multidisciplinary approach to migraine care.
Detailed description
Migraine is the leading cause of disability worldwide among people aged 15 to 49. Although therapies targeting the CGRP pathway have improved the management of the condition, there are large groups of patients who do not respond to medications or for whom these are contraindicated. In this context, non-pharmacological therapies such as physical therapy play a crucial role.
The scientific literature highlights a strong link between migraine and cervical disorders:
- 77% of migraine patients suffer from neck pain.
- 93% have at least three musculoskeletal dysfunctions in the cervical region.
- Patients with cervical symptoms experience more frequent attacks, greater disability, a poorer response to medication, and a higher risk of chronicity.
Despite the proven utility of physical therapy for the prevention and treatment of migraine (as demonstrated by validated physical tests and standardized questionnaires such as the NDI, HDI, and HIT-6), musculoskeletal screening is not routinely included in neurological examinations. Neurologists in headache centers generally lack the time and specific manual skills required to perform a thorough physical assessment of the cervical spine.
There is therefore a lack of a rapid and effective screening tool that serves as a "bridge" between neurology and rehabilitation.
The primary objective of the MIGSKA study is to evaluate the performance of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale in assessing the clinical need and motivation of patients with migraine to undergo physical therapy. The study will also assess the utility of this scale as a decision-making tool for neurologists in referring appropriate patients to physical therapists.
To address this gap in clinical practice, the study analyzes the Doraldo-Castelletti scale. The adoption of this tool aims to:
- Easily identify migraine patients with significant musculoskeletal dysfunction.
- Quantify the patient's attitude and motivation toward manual therapy (a determining factor for treatment success).
- Provide the neurologist with an objective and rapid criterion for prescribing a specialized physical therapy evaluation, promoting a genuine and effective multidisciplinary approach to migraine care.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Doraldo Castelletti scale | Experimental | Other: Doraldo-Castelletti scaleMigraine patients are the targeted population for administration of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale during a neurological visit |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age between 18 and 70 years (inclusive)
- Diagnosis of migraine established by a neurologist specialized in headache disorders
- Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) ≥ 42
- Ability to understand the study informed consent
- Signed informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Neurological diseases confounding the primary objective
- Conditions confounding the primary objective (e.g., fibromyalgia, which could limit patient evaluation by the physiotherapist)
- Previous physiotherapy treatments specifically for headache management
- Psychiatric disorders confounding and/or interfering with the primary objective
- Unstable psychiatric illness, cognitive impairment, dementia, or substance abuse compromising the participant's ability to provide informed consent, according to the investigator's judgment
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Doraldo-Castelletti scaleDuring a routine neurological examination, the physician administers the Doraldo-Castelletti scale to the migraine patient. The scale consists of 10 multiple choice questions. | Other | Doraldo Castelletti scale |
Primary outcome
Score of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale
Time frame: At baseline
Scale consisting of 10 multiple choice questions; Minimum score = 0; Maximum score = 13
Proportion of patients referred to physiotherapist
Time frame: At baseline
Proportion of patients referred to physiotherapist on the basis of the score of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Doraldo-Castelletti scale in people with Migraine, run by Istituto Auxologico Italiano at 1 site in Italy.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Alberto Doretti, MD (+39-0261911 ext. 2937, a.doretti@auxologico.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Score of the Doraldo-Castelletti scale (time frame: At baseline). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2026.