Cervicogenic HeadacheNCT07724639
Effects of Graston Versus Myofascial Release Technique in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache
A study testing Graston technique and Myofascial Release Therapy in people with Cervicogenic Headache, run by Riphah International University.
Trial summary
Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) is a painful condition that has pronounced impacts on quality and activity of daily lives. It is often associated with decreased mobility, muscular tightness, and postural deviations. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervicogenic Headache
- What is being tested?
- Graston technique and Myofascial Release Therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jul 2026to 30 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
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 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Males and females between age 18-40 years [A30.1]of age with Cervicogenic Headache
- Diagnosed with Cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria (3)
- Presence of active myofascial trigger points in the SCM and upper trapezius and subocvcipital levator scapuli (confirmed [A31.1]via palpation and referred pain) simens [A32.1]criteria
- Positive Cervical Flexion Rotation Test
Who cannot join
- Any history of cervical trauma, fracture, or recent surgery.
- Diagnosis of migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache (9).
- Any cervical spine pathology e.g. cervical myelopathies and arthropathies.
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Skin conditions or open wounds that contraindicate use of Graston tools e.g. open wounds, skin infections and burns etc.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Graston Versus Myofascial Release Technique on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache
Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) is a painful condition that has pronounced impacts on quality and activity of daily lives. It is often associated with decreased mobility, muscular tightness, and postural deviations. When neck muscles become tight, weak, or irritated, they change the way the neck moves and put pressure on nearby joints and nerves. This pressure delivers pain signals to the head, causing a Cervicogenic headache.
Read the detailed description
The aim of this study is to compare the effects of the Graston Technique and Myofascial Release in reducing pain, improving cervical range of motion, and decreasing functional disability in patients with Cervicogenic headache.
This study will be a randomized control trial and will be take place at Sehat Medical Complex, lake city branch, Lahore. Non-probability convenience sampling will be used to collect data. Sample size of ( ) subjects with age group between 18-40 years will be taken. Data will be collected from the patients having present complaint of Cervicogenic headache. Outcome measures will be assessed using numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) for pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI) to measure neck related disability, Headache Disability Index (HDI) to assess the impact of headaches on daily activities and emotional well-being and Goniometer for assessing range of motions. An informed consent will be taken and subjects will be selected on basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. They will be divided into two groups by random number generator. One group will receive Graston technique and other myofascial release as a treatment while both groups will be receiving conventional treatment alongside. Outcome measures will be measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Data analysis will be done by SPSS version 21.
- Conditions
- Cervicogenic Headache
- Being tested
- Graston technique, Myofascial Release Therapy
- Keywords
- Cervicogenic Headache, Graston Technique, Neck Disability Index, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Myofascial Release Therapy, Range of Motion
- Medical subject headings
- Post-Traumatic Headache
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Graston techniqueOther
- Applied to: Sternocleidomastoid, Upper trapezius, Levator scapulae, Suboccipitals and cervical paraspinals.
- Duration: 5-7 minutes per session, depending on patient tolerance and therapist assessment.
- Frequency: 2-3 sessions per week, for 4 weeks
Myofascial Release TherapyOther
- Manual release applied to same regions as above using sustained pressure and fascial stretch.
- Duration: 7-10 minutes per session.
- Frequency: 2-3 sessions per week, for 4 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group A: Graston technique | Experimental | Patients will receive the Graston technique with conventional treatment Receives: Other: Graston technique |
| Group B: Myofascial release therapy | Active comparator | Patients will receive Myofascial release therapy with conventional treatment. Receives: Other: Myofascial Release Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Measured: upto 4 weeks
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Patient level of pain will be assessed using this scale. This scale ranges from 0 to 10. 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst pain".
Measured: upto 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Universal Goniometer (UG)
The range of motion will be measured using universal goniometer that has an inter-rater reliability (ICC2, 2 = 0.79 to 0.92) for cervical region
Measured: upto 4 weeks
Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale
Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale
Measured: upto 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jul 2026
- Study startJul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (10)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cervicogenic HeadacheStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sofia Rahim, MSPT*, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07724639
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/25/0140- sofia
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 24 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Bogduk N, Govind J. Cervicogenic headache: an assessment of the evidence on clinical diagnosis, invasive tests, and treatment. Lancet Neurol. 2009 Oct;8(10):959-68. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70209-1.
PubMed 19747657Hall TM, Briffa K, Hopper D, Robinson K. Comparative analysis and diagnostic accuracy of the cervical flexion-rotation test. J Headache Pain. 2010 Oct;11(5):391-7. doi: 10.1007/s10194-010-0222-3. Epub 2010 May 28.
PubMed 20508964Nambi G, Alghadier M, Pakkir Mohamed SH, Vellaiyan A, Ebrahim EE, Sobeh DE, Kashoo FZ, Albarakati AJA, Alshahrani NA, Eswaramoorthi V. Combined and isolated effects of workstation ergonomics and physiotherapy in improving cervicogenic headache and work ability in office workers: a single-blinded, randomized controlled study. Front Public Health. 2024 Nov 28;12:1438591. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1438591. eCollection 2024.
PubMed 39697289Lerner-Lentz A, O'Halloran B, Donaldson M, Cleland JA. Pragmatic application of manipulation versus mobilization to the upper segments of the cervical spine plus exercise for treatment of cervicogenic headache: a randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2021 Oct;29(5):267-275. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2020.1834322. Epub 2020 Nov 5.
PubMed 33148134Verma S, Tripathi M, Chandra PS. Cervicogenic Headache: Current Perspectives. Neurol India. 2021 Mar-Apr;69(Supplement):S194-S198. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.315992.
PubMed 34003165Mingels S, Granitzer M, Jull G, Dankaerts W. The occurrence of cervicogenic headache: A mapping review. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2025 Jun;77:103290. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103290. Epub 2025 Feb 20.
PubMed 40031141Robinson CL, Christensen RH, Al-Khazali HM, Amin FM, Yang A, Lipton RB, Ashina S. Prevalence and relative frequency of cervicogenic headache in population- and clinic-based studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cephalalgia. 2025 Mar;45(3):3331024251322446. doi: 10.1177/03331024251322446. Epub 2025 Mar 17.
PubMed 40094720Olesen J. International Classification of Headache Disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2018 May;17(5):396-397. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30085-1. Epub 2018 Mar 14. No abstract available.
PubMed 29550365Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018 Jan;38(1):1-211. doi: 10.1177/0333102417738202. No abstract available.
PubMed 29368949Al Khalili Y, Ly NK, Murphy PB. Cervicogenic Headache. 2022 Oct 3. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507862/
PubMed 29939639