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Cervicogenic HeadacheNCT07724639

Effects of Graston Versus Myofascial Release Technique in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache

A study testing Graston technique and Myofascial Release Therapy in people with Cervicogenic Headache, run by Riphah International University.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) is a painful condition that has pronounced impacts on quality and activity of daily lives. It is often associated with decreased mobility, muscular tightness, and postural deviations. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 40 years
Conditions the study is for
Cervicogenic Headache
What is being tested?
Graston technique and Myofascial Release Therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
48 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Jul 2026to 30 Dec 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 40 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Males and females between age 18-40 years [A30.1]of age with Cervicogenic Headache
  • Diagnosed with Cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria (3)
  • Presence of active myofascial trigger points in the SCM and upper trapezius and subocvcipital levator scapuli (confirmed [A31.1]via palpation and referred pain) simens [A32.1]criteria
  • Positive Cervical Flexion Rotation Test

Who cannot join

  • Any history of cervical trauma, fracture, or recent surgery.
  • Diagnosis of migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache (9).
  • Any cervical spine pathology e.g. cervical myelopathies and arthropathies.
  • Pregnant or lactating women.
  • Skin conditions or open wounds that contraindicate use of Graston tools e.g. open wounds, skin infections and burns etc.

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Sumrod Akram contact

03324806143

samrood.akram@riphah.edu.pk

About this study

Official title: Effects of Graston Versus Myofascial Release Technique on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache

Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) is a painful condition that has pronounced impacts on quality and activity of daily lives. It is often associated with decreased mobility, muscular tightness, and postural deviations. When neck muscles become tight, weak, or irritated, they change the way the neck moves and put pressure on nearby joints and nerves. This pressure delivers pain signals to the head, causing a Cervicogenic headache.

Read the detailed description

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of the Graston Technique and Myofascial Release in reducing pain, improving cervical range of motion, and decreasing functional disability in patients with Cervicogenic headache.

This study will be a randomized control trial and will be take place at Sehat Medical Complex, lake city branch, Lahore. Non-probability convenience sampling will be used to collect data. Sample size of ( ) subjects with age group between 18-40 years will be taken. Data will be collected from the patients having present complaint of Cervicogenic headache. Outcome measures will be assessed using numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) for pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI) to measure neck related disability, Headache Disability Index (HDI) to assess the impact of headaches on daily activities and emotional well-being and Goniometer for assessing range of motions. An informed consent will be taken and subjects will be selected on basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. They will be divided into two groups by random number generator. One group will receive Graston technique and other myofascial release as a treatment while both groups will be receiving conventional treatment alongside. Outcome measures will be measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Data analysis will be done by SPSS version 21.

Being tested
Graston technique, Myofascial Release Therapy
Keywords
Cervicogenic Headache, Graston Technique, Neck Disability Index, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Myofascial Release Therapy, Range of Motion
Medical subject headings
Post-Traumatic Headache

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Graston techniqueOther

    • Applied to: Sternocleidomastoid, Upper trapezius, Levator scapulae, Suboccipitals and cervical paraspinals.
    • Duration: 5-7 minutes per session, depending on patient tolerance and therapist assessment.
    • Frequency: 2-3 sessions per week, for 4 weeks

  • Myofascial Release TherapyOther

    • Manual release applied to same regions as above using sustained pressure and fascial stretch.
    • Duration: 7-10 minutes per session.
    • Frequency: 2-3 sessions per week, for 4 weeks.
Study groups in NCT07724639
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Group A: Graston techniqueExperimentalPatients will receive the Graston technique with conventional treatment
Receives: Other: Graston technique
Group B: Myofascial release therapyActive comparatorPatients will receive Myofascial release therapy with conventional treatment.
Receives: Other: Myofascial Release Therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Neck Disability Index (NDI)

    Measured: upto 4 weeks

  2. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

    Patient level of pain will be assessed using this scale. This scale ranges from 0 to 10. 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst pain".

    Measured: upto 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes (2)

  1. Universal Goniometer (UG)

    The range of motion will be measured using universal goniometer that has an inter-rater reliability (ICC2, 2 = 0.79 to 0.92) for cervical region

    Measured: upto 4 weeks

  2. Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale

    Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale

    Measured: upto 4 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Jul 2026
  2. Study startJul 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
48 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07724639
Sponsor's protocol ID
REC/RCR & AHS/25/0140- sofia
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
21 Jul 2026
Last updated
24 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Bogduk N, Govind J. Cervicogenic headache: an assessment of the evidence on clinical diagnosis, invasive tests, and treatment. Lancet Neurol. 2009 Oct;8(10):959-68. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70209-1.

    PubMed 19747657

  • Hall TM, Briffa K, Hopper D, Robinson K. Comparative analysis and diagnostic accuracy of the cervical flexion-rotation test. J Headache Pain. 2010 Oct;11(5):391-7. doi: 10.1007/s10194-010-0222-3. Epub 2010 May 28.

    PubMed 20508964

  • Nambi G, Alghadier M, Pakkir Mohamed SH, Vellaiyan A, Ebrahim EE, Sobeh DE, Kashoo FZ, Albarakati AJA, Alshahrani NA, Eswaramoorthi V. Combined and isolated effects of workstation ergonomics and physiotherapy in improving cervicogenic headache and work ability in office workers: a single-blinded, randomized controlled study. Front Public Health. 2024 Nov 28;12:1438591. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1438591. eCollection 2024.

    PubMed 39697289

  • Lerner-Lentz A, O'Halloran B, Donaldson M, Cleland JA. Pragmatic application of manipulation versus mobilization to the upper segments of the cervical spine plus exercise for treatment of cervicogenic headache: a randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2021 Oct;29(5):267-275. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2020.1834322. Epub 2020 Nov 5.

    PubMed 33148134

  • Verma S, Tripathi M, Chandra PS. Cervicogenic Headache: Current Perspectives. Neurol India. 2021 Mar-Apr;69(Supplement):S194-S198. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.315992.

    PubMed 34003165

  • Mingels S, Granitzer M, Jull G, Dankaerts W. The occurrence of cervicogenic headache: A mapping review. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2025 Jun;77:103290. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103290. Epub 2025 Feb 20.

    PubMed 40031141

  • Robinson CL, Christensen RH, Al-Khazali HM, Amin FM, Yang A, Lipton RB, Ashina S. Prevalence and relative frequency of cervicogenic headache in population- and clinic-based studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cephalalgia. 2025 Mar;45(3):3331024251322446. doi: 10.1177/03331024251322446. Epub 2025 Mar 17.

    PubMed 40094720

  • Olesen J. International Classification of Headache Disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2018 May;17(5):396-397. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30085-1. Epub 2018 Mar 14. No abstract available.

    PubMed 29550365

  • Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018 Jan;38(1):1-211. doi: 10.1177/0333102417738202. No abstract available.

    PubMed 29368949

  • Al Khalili Y, Ly NK, Murphy PB. Cervicogenic Headache. 2022 Oct 3. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507862/

    PubMed 29939639

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Graston technique and Myofascial Release Therapy in people with Cervicogenic Headache, run by Riphah International University.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Sumrod Akram (03324806143, samrood.akram@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Neck Disability Index (NDI) (time frame: upto 4 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07724639, which also lists 10 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jul 2026.

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