As técnicas de mobilização articular aplicadas à coluna cervical são efetivas na cefaleia crônica?

Abstract

Introduction: Headache is a common complaint with a prevalence of 90% of the population. Manipulative physiotherapy is a non-invasive treatment applicable to patients with this symptom. Objective: To evaluate the effects of joint mobilization techniques applied to the cervical spine on pain, symptoms of anxiety and quality of sleep in adults with chronic headache. Methods: Quasi-experimental study with 60 participants. They were evaluated before, after and 7 days after a session with cervical joint mobilization techniques. The Visual Analog Scale was used to quantify neck pain, the Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess the intensity of anxiety symptoms and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep quality. Results: The average pain intensity before treatment was 5,57 points, just after 1,42cm and 7 days later 1,73cm, corresponding to the highly significant improvement in pain (p<0,001). Regarding anxiety, before the treatment, the mean score was 15,55 and 7 days after 11,98. As for sleep quality, the average score before treatment was 9,32 and 6,95 7 days after the intervention. There was a highly significant improvement in the participants' anxiety symptoms and sleep quality (p<0,001). Conclusion: Joint mobilization applied to the cervical spine is an excellent alternative for the treatment of chronic headache and should be included in the physiotherapeutic treatment plan for patients with such disorder.