Assessment of the immediate effect of suboccipital muscle stretching exercise on secondary type headache

The aim of this study; to evaluate pain, disability, quality of life, psychological state (anxiety and depression) and secondary type headache in patients with neck pain, as well as comparison of the effectiveness of two different home exercise programs. Forty-eight (n: 48) individuals who applied with neck pain and headache were included in the study. Our study was conducted in Fizyoaktif Wellness Center. The participants of the study were randomly divided into two groups and named as Group 1 and Group 2. Both groups were given a home exercise program, and Group 2 received a suboccipital muscle stretching exercise in addition to Group 1 exercises. Before starting the study, the sociodemographic information form was completed by the participants; Visual Analogue Scale, McGill Pain Scale Short Form, SF-36 and Neck Disability Index were evaluated. The same assessments were repeated at the end of 2 days. The obtained data were analyzed using non-parametric and parametric tests. As a result of our study, pain and neck disability questionnaire scores in both exercise groups showed significant improvement compared to the pre-treatment (p0.05). There was an increase in the quality of life in both groups. However, when the inter-group measurements in VAS, NDI, SF-MPQ and SF-36 quality of life were analyzed, more positive findings were obtained in Group 2 compared to Group 1. As a result of study, when the immediate effect of secondary headache induced by neck pain was evaluated, pain and quality of life were observed in both groups, while the suboccipital muscles were included in the exercise program and thus, more change was achieved in Group 2, and the flexibility of these muscles had more effect on pain.