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Abstract
Cervicogenic headache: key statistical data
published in March - April 2018 - in Il Fisioterapista - issue n.2
Massimo Bitocchi

The International Headache Society has classified Cervicogenic Headache as a secondary form of headache with referred pain perceived in one or more regions of the head and/or face coming from a source in the neck. Other symptoms associated with cervicogenic headache are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, retro-ocular pain, inability to concentrate, and visual disturbances. The invasive treatment techniques consist of injections and dry needling. Non-invasive treatment techniques consist of TENS, massage, exercise, and joint manipulation or mobilization. To review the key statistical data available on cervicogenic headache, we searched the current literature for relevant studies, without over employing any specific methodological criterion for identifying and analyzing the literature. The analyzed studies investigated physiotherapy treatment techniques such as neck mobilization or some other technique plus mobilization to treat cervicogenic headache. Physiotherapy treatments were found to have a positive effect on all types of headache and on all outcome measures investigated, without any negative effects. Physiotherapy should thus be considered as a support to the medical management of headache.