The effect of cervical stabilization exercises on pain level, cervical posture and quality of life in tension-type headache patients

The study aimed to examine the effect of cervical stabilization exercises on pain, cervical posture and quality of life in tension-type headache patients. The study included 60 patients ranged from 20-50 years. Individuals were divided into two groups: cervical stabilization (n=30) and control group (n=30). The groups under went hotpack and neck muscles stretching exercises before exercise. This practice continued for a total of 4 weeks, 2 days a week in both groups. Following the treatment mentioned, the control group was given classical neck exercises and the cervical stabilization group was given stabilization exercises in addition to the classical exercises. The patients were evaluated in terms of pain level, cervical posture, functional status, sleep quality and quality of life. All evaluations were repeated twice before treatment and at the end of 4 weeks. The results of the study showed that pain decreased after treatment, functional status improved, sleep quality and quality of life improved in both groups when they were compared before and after treatment (p<0.05). When the groups were compared, the cervical stabilization group was more effective in terms of pain, functional status and sleepiness than the control group (p<0.05), but the groups were similar in terms of two sub-parameters (general heath and body image) of cervical posture and quality of life results (p>0.05). As a result, it was observed that in patients diagnosed with tension-type headache; cervical stabilization exercises are effective on pain, functional level with deep flexor muscle strengh and endurance, sleepiness and quality of life (outside general heath and body image). For this reason, we believe that cervical stabilization exercises should be used in conjunction with classical exercises in order to ensure there covery of symptoms in a short time in patients with tension-type headaches. Keywords: Tension Type Headache, Headache, Cervical Stabilization Exercise training, Cervical Posture, Quality of Life.