Comparison of traditional physical therapy and mulligan mobilization technique in treatment of cervicogenic headache

Aim: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the classical physical therapy and Mulligan mobilizing in the treatment of Cervicogenic Headache (CH) and to compare the effectiveness of these two methods. Material and Methods: The study included randomly and voluntarily 40 patients with CH diagnosis, 20 traditional physical therapy groups (Group 1) and 20 Mulligan mobilization groups (Group 2). All patients were evaluated measurement of neck lordosis, normal range of motion, Anthropometric Measurements, Cervical Performance Tests, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neck Disorder Index, Back Depression Scale. Results: While VAS, pain duration, Neck Disorder İndex and Back Depression Scale were significantly decreased in both groups, there was a significant increase in range of motion, cervical performance tests, lordosis angle (p˂0.05). There wasn't statistically significant difference in head and neck anthropometric measurements (p>0.05). VAS values were statistically decreased in Group 2, whereas pain duration wasn't different between the two groups. While neck extension and right lateral flexion values of the joint range of motion increased equally in both groups; the values of flexion, left lateral flexion, right rotation and left rotation were statistically increased in Group 2. Cervical performance tests, neck lordosis angle Group 2 values were statistically higher, Group 2 values were decreased more in Neck Disability Index and Back Depression Scale. Conclusion: Both treatments were found to have positive effects on radiological and clinical findings of CH, but Mulligan mobilization technique was found to be more effective. Anthropometric measurements of head and neck showed no change in both groups. Keywords: Cervicogenic headache, Traditional physical therapy, Mulligan mobilization technique, Neck exercises.