Traditional Chinese Cervical Manipulation for Cervicogenic Headache

Background Cervical spondylosis is a prevalent condition. Studies has shown that it is a leading cause for headache, which is termed cervicogenic headache (CGH). The prevlance of CGH among severe headache is 17.5%. While conventional treatments, such as physical therapy and surgery, is effective in controlling symptoms, the effect was found to be short-lasting. There is existing clinical evidence supporting traditional Chinese cervical manipulation (CCM) as a viable treatment for CGH. Objective To preliminarily assess the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of CCM on patients with CGH, and to optimize parameters for a future large-scale trial. Method This study is a pilot randomized, controlled, single-blind trial. 84 participants will be randomized evenly to receive either CCM or sham manipulation for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements will be conducted at baseline, week 2, week 4 and week 8 on cervical functional disability, cervical range of motion, and data on headache onset and painkiller assumption. Adverse events will be recorded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE).

NCT Number	NCT06434051
Lead Sponsor	Hong Kong Baptist University
Conditions	Cervicogenic Headache
Enrollment	84 participants
Start Date	2024-11-01
Primary Completion	2026-08-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-08-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-11