An observational study in Migraine, Headache and Chronic Headache, sponsored by Fundació Universitària del Bages. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-02-12.
Sponsored by Fundació Universitària del Bages · Observational
Therapeutic exercise, including aerobic activity and strength training, has shown promise in treating primary headaches with a moderate effect size, despite limited evidence. Implementation requires specialized professionals, infrastructure, and defined care pathways. These strategies are cost-effective for similar chronic pain conditions. More research is needed to better understand the varying effects on headache frequency, duration, and intensity in larger patient samples.
Therapeutic exercise strategies (TES) includes modalities such as aerobic activity and strength training, which have been investigated as treatments for primary headache in recent years. These modalities have been previously summarized, and despite the fact that the body of evidence available is less than in other therapeutic modalities, this is increasing, and they are positioned as strategies with a moderate effect size and recommendation.
However, its implementation is not simple and requires resources, such as professionals with specialized training, infrastructure, and clearly defined care circuits. Conversely, these strategies have demonstrated cost-effectiveness in other chronic pain conditions with similar treatment and care demands.
It is of interest to increase knowledge in this area given that the size of the effect of these interventions is large, although it varies according to the analyzed variable and type of exercise modality. The reduction in days per month with headache or migraine, reduction in headache hours per month, or decrease in headache intensity has been demonstrated in a non-negligible number of patients, but larger samples are needed.
The present study aimed to determine the status of exercise recommendations in the headache units of the Catalan territory and to evaluate the possible fit of specialized physiotherapy for the treatment of patients with headaches within these units based on the opinion of the responsible members of these units and available resources.
Contact with the headache units of the Catalan territory will be made by email or telephone during November 2023.
Semi-structured interviews and a survey developed from the interviews with the members of the units will be conducted to determine the status of exercise recommendations in the headache units of the Catalan territory and to evaluate the possible viability of specialized physiotherapy for the treatment of patients with headaches.
A total of 8-12 interviews and 20-30 responses to the surveys were expected. These will include neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, managers, rehabilitation doctors, and physiotherapists linked to neurology services.
1,657 studies on the registry are indexed under Migraine Disorders; 339 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 137 across 331 observational studies indexed under Migraine Disorders.
Browse Migraine Disorders studies →Fundació Universitària del Bages is the lead sponsor of 7 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.
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Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, physical therapists, rehabilitation doctors, health manager of the headache unit or rehabilitation service connected to the headache unit.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Neurologists, nurses, pharmacists, health managers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals related to the headache unit.
Other: Interviews · Other: Surveys
Semi-structured interviews
Estructured survey
Status of exercise prescription in primary headaches
Likert Scale from 1-5: (1) Not recommended, (2) occasionally recommended, (3) usually recommended, (4) occasionally recommended and supervised by a qualified professional, (5) usually recommended and supervised by a qualified professional. Through survey and interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Viability of the exercise prescription in the headache units
List of necessary resources for implementing exercise for primary headache patients reported by headache units. Qualitative information from surveys and interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Relevance of exercise as a strategy for the treatment of patients with primary headaches.
Likert 1-5: (1) Not interesting for headache management, (2) Low interest for headache management (3) Moderate interest for headache management (4) High interest for headache management (5) Absolute interest for headache management. Through survey and interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Create a survey for assessing headache unit resources.
List of essencial items to be included in the headache unit survey. Discussed by consensus among authors.
Time frame: During November 2023
Necessary material resources
List of material resources needed for implementing physiotherapy in the headache units. Identified through semi-structured interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Necessary technological resources
List of technological resources needed for implementing physiotherapy in the headache units. Identified through semi-structured interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Necessary human resources
List of human resources needed for implementing physiotherapy in the headache units. Identified through semi-structured interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Necessary service resources
List of service resources needed for implementing physiotherapy in the headache units. Identified through semi-structured interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Necessary additional resources
List of additional resources needed for implementing physiotherapy in the headache units. Identified through semi-structured interviews.
Time frame: During observation period from November 2023 to January 2024.
Acceptance to implementation therapeutic exercice strategies
Number of headache units that accepts to participate in a protocol to implement any of the therapeutic exercice strategies.
Time frame: December 2023
Plan to share: Undecided — Should be discussed with the participants
Start is estimated for Mar 2024; primary completion for May 2024, 2 months later.
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Fundació Universitària del Bages