Immediate effects of ischemic compression on neck function in patients with cervicogenic cephalic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Cervicogenic cephalic syndrome (CCS), a group of diseases, consists of cervicogenic headache and dizziness. These symptoms may cause loss of physical function compared with other headache and dizziness disorders. The purpose of this case-control study was to assess the clinical effects of ischemic compression (IC) in patients with CCS.


METHODS
Twenty-seven subjects with chronic neck pain (persisting for >3 months) and 26 healthy volunteers were examined. Subjects with organic lesion of the ear, nose, throat, eye, or central nervous system were excluded. The CCS group received IC over the maximal tender points of the origin of the posterior nuchal muscle. Sensory organization test (SOT) scores, cervical range of motion (ROM), and isometric strength of neck were measured before IC and after IC.


RESULTS
The ROM of the cervical spine increased in all directions after IC (P < .0083) in the CCS group, and isometric strength in the CCS group rose in all directions after IC (P = .000). There was a significant difference in ankle strategy score under the sway-referenced vision and fixed support condition (P = .003) between the control group and CCS before IC. The ankle strategy score of the CCS group improved substantially after IC under eyes closed and sway-referenced support conditions (P = .003). The visual and vestibular ratios in the CCS group also increased after IC (P = .006 and P = .002, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study showed that ROM of the cervical spine and isometric strength increased in all directions, and the SOT scores showed increased postural stability under conditions with swayed reference support after IC in the CCS group. The ratios for vestibular and visual function also increased after IC in the CCS group.
School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Yin-Chou
YC
Lin
Cheng-Hsiu
CH
Lai
Wei-Han
WH
Chang
Li-Wen
LW
Tu
Jung-Charng
JC
Lin
Shih-Wei
SW
Chou
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods; D009333:Neck / Q000502:physiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D051298:Post-Traumatic Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome