An interventional study of Dry Needling,Thrust Manipulation and Exercise,Non-thrust Mobilization in Cervicogenic Headache and Whiplash Injuries, sponsored by Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-11.
Sponsored by Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this research is to compare two different approaches for treating patients with cervicogenic headaches associated with type II whiplash associated disorder: non-thrust mobilization and exercise versus thrust manipulation and dry needling. Physical therapists commonly use all of these techniques to treat cervicogenic headaches. This study is attempting to find out if one treatment strategy is more effective than the other.
Patients with cervicogenic headaches and type II whiplash associated disorder will be randomized to receive 1-2 treatment sessions per week for 4 weeks (up to 8 sessions total) of either: (1) dry needling and upper cervical high-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulation, or (2) exercise and non-thrust mobilization.
192 studies on the registry are indexed under Post-Traumatic Headache; 54 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 120 is above the median of 44 across 169 interventional studies indexed under Post-Traumatic Headache.
Browse Post-Traumatic Headache studies →Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture is the lead sponsor of 15 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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:
Two or more positive neurologic signs consistent with nerve root compression, including any two of the following:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
TIA (transient ischaemic attack)
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Dry needling to the craniofacial, upper cervical, and cervicothoracic regions. High-velocity thrust manipulation to the upper cervical spine, mid/lower cervical spine, and cervicothoracic spinal regions.
Other: Dry Needling,Thrust Manipulation
Nonthrust joint mobilization to the upper cervical spine, mid/lower cervical spine, and cervicothoracic spinal regions. Cranio-cervical flexion exercises, peri-scapular progressive resistance exercises, and electrothermal modalities
Other: Exercise,Non-thrust Mobilization
HVLA thrust manipulation to upper cervical and upper thoracic regions. Dry needling to cervicothoracic and craniofacial regions. Up to 8 treatment sessions over 4 weeks.
Also known as: Spinal Manipulation, Dry Needling
Non-thrust mobilization and exercise to upper cervical and upper thoracic regions. Up to 8 treatment sessions over 4 weeks.
Also known as: Exercise, Non-thrust Mobilization
Change in Headache Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, 0-10) (Rating Score)
Rating Score on 0-10 scale. Baseline score must exceed 2/10 to be included. Lower scores indicate less pain intensity. the study.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Change in Global Rating of Change Score for Headaches
Rating score for self perceived change with range of -7 to +7. Higher scores indicate greater improvement.
Time frame: 6 months
Change in Global Rating of Change Score for Neck Pain
Rating score for self perceived change with range of -7 to +7. Higher scores indicate greater improvement.
Time frame: 6 months
Change in Medication Intake (Frequency of medication intake in last week)
Over the counter and prescription medication
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months
Change in Headache Duration (Total hours of headaches in the last week)
Total hours of headaches in the last week
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Change in Headache Frequency (Number of headaches in the last week)
Number of headaches in the last week
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Change in Disability (Neck Disability Index, 0-50 points)
10 Questions each worth 0-5 points with maximum score of 50 points possible. Lower scores indicate lower disability levels. Baseline score must exceed 10/50 to be included in study.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Change in Neck Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, 0-10 points)
Rating score 0-10 points. Lower scores indicate lower pain intensity. Baseline score must exceed 2/10 to be included
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Change in Pain Catastrophizing Scale (0-52 points)
13 questions each worth 0-4 points with maximum score of 52 points. Lower scores indicate less pain catastrophizing.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Jul 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for May 2026, 21 months after the start.
Of 89 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Post-Traumatic Headache, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 26. This study's planned 21 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 90 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 26.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture