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RecruitingNCT07776275Updated Nov 10, 2026

Physical Profile of Cervicogenic Headache: Comparison With Neck Pain and Healthy Controls

An observational study in Cervicogenic Headache and Chronic Neck Pain, sponsored by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 25 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.

Sponsored by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital · Observational

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Apr 2026; still recruiting 6 months later.
Updated Nov 10, 2026Primary completion movedStudy completion movedGo to Updates ↓
Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
135
Ages
25 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this observational study is to compare physical findings across three adult groups. Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a headache linked to a problem in the neck. Neck pain may affect posture, muscle function, grip strength, and sensitivity to pressure. Researchers do not know whether CGH has a distinct pattern of these findings.

The main questions are:

  • Do posture, grip strength, muscle stiffness, elasticity, and pressure sensitivity differ among the groups?
  • Are any differences more closely associated with CGH than with neck pain?

Researchers will compare adults ages 25 through 60. One group will include people with CGH lasting at least three months. Another group will include people with neck pain lasting at least six months. People in the neck pain group will have no headaches. Healthy participants will have no neck pain or headaches.

Researchers will not provide treatment or change participants' usual care. Each participant will complete one study visit lasting about 15 minutes. Participants will:

  • Answer short questions about their health and pain
  • Stand while researchers measure their head and neck posture
  • Squeeze a device that measures grip strength
  • Complete brief tests of neck muscle stiffness and elasticity
  • Tell researchers when applied pressure first becomes painful

Researchers will compare results across the three groups. The findings may guide future CGH assessment and treatment research.

02

Conditions studied

  • Cervicogenic Headache
  • Chronic Neck Pain

Keywords

  • physical profile
  • myotonometry
  • upper trapezius
  • muscle stiffness
  • logarithmic decrement
  • pressure pain threshold
  • handgrip strength
  • craniovertebral angle
  • tragus to wall distance
  • cross-sectional study
03

In context

Post-Traumatic Headache

192 studies on the registry are indexed under Post-Traumatic Headache; 54 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 135 is above the median of 90 across 21 observational studies indexed under Post-Traumatic Headache.

Browse Post-Traumatic Headache studies →

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Medipol University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 366 studies on the registry; 46 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
25 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The study population consists of adults aged 25-60 years recruited at the study site in Istanbul, Türkiye. Participants are classified into three groups according to predefined clinical criteria. The cervicogenic headache group includes individuals diagnosed by a physician according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. The chronic nonspecific neck pain group includes individuals with neck pain lasting at least 6 months and no headache. The healthy control group includes individuals without neck pain or headache. Participants receive no study intervention and complete one questionnaire-based and instrument-based assessment session.

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.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 25 to 60 years
  • Able to provide written
  • Meeting the criteria for one of the following groups:
  • Cervicogenic headache: physician diagnosis according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, with symptoms lasting at least 3 months
  • Chronic nonspecific neck pain: neck pain lasting at least 6 months without headache
  • Healthy control: no neck pain or headache

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Receipt of physiotherapy for headache or neck pain during the previous 6 months
  • Diagnosis of a headache disorder other than cervicogenic headache, including migraine or tension-type headache, or a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia
  • History of cervical spine surgery or significant cervical trauma
  • Current or previous diagnosis of a tumor or cancer
  • Serious cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, hematological, metabolic, neurological, or psychiatric disorder
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Congenital cervical abnormality
  • Cervical spondylolisthesis or cervical instability
  • Active infection
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
  • Dizziness or visual disturbance accompanying headache
  • Any clinical red flag suggesting serious cervical pathology
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Upper-extremity injury, surgery, or another condition affecting handgrip strength
  • Serious musculoskeletal disorder affecting cervical posture or muscle measurements
  • Inability to complete the questionnaire-based or instrument-based assessments
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

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.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
135 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Cervicogenic Headache Group

    Adults aged 25-60 years with cervicogenic headache diagnosed by a physician according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3), and symptoms lasting at least 3 months. Participants undergo one questionnaire-based and instrument-based assessment session. No intervention is assigned.

  • Chronic Nonspescific Neck Pain Group

    Adults aged 25-60 years with chronic nonspecific neck pain lasting at least 6 months and no headache. Participants undergo one questionnaire-based and instrument-based assessment session. No intervention is assigned.

  • Healthy Control Group

    Adults aged 25-60 years with no neck pain or headaches. Participants undergo one questionnaire-based and instrument-based assessment session. No intervention is assigned.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Bilateral Upper Trapezius Muscle Stiffness

    Upper trapezius muscle stiffness will be assessed bilaterally using the MyotonPRO device. Three consecutive measurements will be obtained at the midpoint between the C7 spinous process and the lateral border of the acromion. The mean of the three measurements will be used. Stiffness will be expressed in newtons per meter (N/m), with higher values indicating greater stiffness.

    Time frame: During the single assessment session at enrollment

  2. Bilateral Upper Trapezius Logarithmic Decrement

    Upper trapezius logarithmic decrement will be assessed bilaterally using the MyotonPRO device at the same standardized measurement site. Three consecutive measurements will be obtained on each side, and their mean will be used. Logarithmic decrement is a dimensionless inverse indicator of tissue elasticity, with lower values indicating greater elasticity.

    Time frame: During the single assessment session at enrollment

Secondary outcomes

  1. Bilateral Handgrip Strength

    Bilateral handgrip strength will be measured using a Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer set to the second handle position. Participants will perform three maximal contractions with each hand in a standardized seated position. The highest value for each hand will be recorded in kilograms, with higher values indicating greater handgrip strength.

    Time frame: During the single assessment session at enrollment

  2. Bilateral Upper Trapezius Pressure Pain Threshold

    Pressure pain threshold will be measured bilaterally over the upper trapezius using a handheld pressure algometer with a 1-cm² probe. The measurement site will be the midpoint between the C7 spinous process and the lateral border of the acromion. Pressure will gradually increase until the participant first reports pain. Values will be recorded in kg/cm², with higher values indicating a higher pressure pain threshold.

    Time frame: During the single assessment session at enrollment

  3. Bilateral Suboccipital Pressure Pain Threshold

    Pressure pain threshold will be measured bilaterally over the suboccipital region using a handheld pressure algometer with a 1-cm² probe. The measurement site will be located 2 cm lateral to the C2 spinous process. Pressure will gradually increase until the participant first reports pain. Values will be recorded in kg/cm², with higher values indicating a higher pressure pain threshold.

    Time frame: During the single assessment session at enrollment

  4. Tragus-to-Wall Distance

    Tragus-to-wall distance will be measured in millimeters using a tape measure. Participants will stand with their heels, sacrum, and thoracic spine resting comfortably against a wall while maintaining a natural head position. The distance between the wall and the tragus will be recorded. Greater distances indicate greater forward positioning of the head.

    Time frame: During the single assessment session at enrollment

  5. Craniovertebral Angle

    The craniovertebral angle will be measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The fulcrum will be positioned over the lateral projection of the C7 spinous process. The stationary arm will remain parallel to the floor, and the movable arm will point toward the tragus. Three measurements will be obtained, and their mean will be used. Smaller angles indicate greater forward head posture.

    Time frame: During the single assessment session at enrollment

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Medipol Sefaköy Üniversite Hastanesi
    Istanbul, Sefaköy 34433, Turkey (Türkiye)
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared. Study findings will be reported only in aggregate form through scientific publications and presentations.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Primary completion
Oct 1, 2026→Nov 8, 2026 (actual)
Nov 10, 2026
Study completion
Oct 1, 2026→Nov 30, 2026
Nov 10, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Nov 10, 2026
    Primary completion Oct 1, 2026→Nov 8, 2026 (now actual)
    Study completion Oct 1, 2026→Nov 30, 2026
    + 1 other change: verification date

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07776275
Collaborators
Istanbul Kent University
Responsible party
fatih bali (Lecturer, Istanbul Kent University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 20, 2026
Start date
Apr 21, 2026
Primary completion
Nov 8, 2026
Completion
Nov 30, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 10, 2026

Study contacts

Fatih Bali, PhD.
Contact
fatihbali@hotmail.com
+905323937689

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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