UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
School of Rehabilitation and Examination, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland.
Clin Rehabil. 2023 Oct;37(10):1322-1331. doi: 10.1177/02692155231170687. Epub 2023 Apr 25.
We investigated whether a specific exercise program for the neck-shoulder region reduces headache intensity, frequency, and duration, and how it influences neck disability among women with chronic headache compared to a control group.
Two-center randomized controlled trial.
116 working-age women.
The exercise group (n = 57) performed a home-based program with six progressive exercise modules, over 6 months. The control group (n = 59) underwent six placebo-dosed transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation sessions. Both groups performed stretching exercises.
The primary outcome was pain intensity of headache, assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes were frequency and duration of weekly headaches, and neck disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index. Generalized linear mixed models were used.
Mean pain intensity at baseline was 4.7 (95% CI 4.4 to 5.0) in the exercise group and 4.8 (4.5 to 5.1) in the control group. After 6 months the decrease was slight with no between-group difference. Headache frequency decreased from 4.5 (3.9 to 5.1) to 2.4 (1.8 to 3.0) days/week in the exercise group, and from 4.4 (3.6 to 5.1) to 3.0 (2.4 to 3.6) in the control group (between-group = 0.017). Headache duration decreased in both groups, with no between-group difference. Greater improvement in the Neck Disability Index was found in the exercise group (between-group change -1.6 [95% CI -3.1 to -0.2] points).
The progressive exercise program almost halved headache frequency. The exercise program could be recommended as one treatment option for women with chronic headache.
本研究旨在探讨颈肩部专项运动方案是否可以减轻慢性头痛女性的头痛强度、频率和持续时间，并评估其与对照组相比对颈部功能障碍的影响。
两中心随机对照试验。
116 名处于工作年龄的女性。
运动组（n=57）接受为期 6 个月的 6 个渐进式运动模块的家庭运动方案。对照组（n=59）接受 6 次安慰剂经皮神经电刺激治疗。两组均进行伸展运动。
主要结局指标为头痛强度，采用数字疼痛评分量表（Numeric Pain Rating Scale）进行评估。次要结局指标为每周头痛的频率和持续时间，以及使用颈部残疾指数（Neck Disability Index）评估的颈部功能障碍。采用广义线性混合模型进行分析。
运动组和对照组的基线平均疼痛强度分别为 4.7（95%可信区间 4.4 至 5.0）和 4.8（4.5 至 5.1）。6 个月后，两组的疼痛强度略有下降，但组间差异无统计学意义。头痛频率从运动组的 4.5（3.9 至 5.1）天/周降至 2.4（1.8 至 3.0）天/周，对照组从 4.4（3.6 至 5.1）天/周降至 3.0（2.4 至 3.6）天/周（组间差异为 0.017）。两组的头痛持续时间均有所下降，组间差异无统计学意义。运动组的颈部残疾指数改善更为显著（组间变化-1.6[95%可信区间-3.1 至-0.2]分）。
渐进式运动方案可使头痛频率减半。该运动方案可作为慢性头痛女性的一种治疗选择。
