6533b827fe1ef96bd1286dc6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Ten-year follow-up of health-related quality of life among persons with multiple sclerosis

subject

description

nervous stimulation and stretching exercises (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01664585). Methods:Women aged 18 to 60 having chronic cervicogenic headache with intensity equal or greater than 45mm during the last two months on Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were randomized either to the treatment group “Therapeutic exercise” (THEX group) or to the control group “Transcutaneous Nervous Stimulation” (TNS group). The clinical examination of participants by physiotherapist was conducted at baseline and after intervention. Participants were asked to report each episode of headache including its intensity (VAS) and duration on a daily basis for 6months in the diary. Headache Impact Test-6 scorewas used to assess impact of headache on daily life. The other selected outcome measures are validated questionnaires (Neck Disability Index, Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Work Ability Index, Quality of life RAND36). THEX group’s training program consisted of six progressive therapeutic exercise modules (THEX M1 to M6) including proprioceptive, progressive cranio-cervical and cervical exercises, and exerciseswith high-load for neckmuscles during the 6-month intervention. The training protocol of the therapeutic exercises is based on Jull et al. (2002) and Ylinen et al. (2003). The main aim of the therapeutic exercise program was to improve postural and movement control of the cervical spine and shoulder region, and, secondly, to strengthen the postural muscles. The participants in TNS group received six individually performed 45-minute sham TNS treatment sessions. Between-group differences will be analysed separately at 6, 12 and 24 months with analysis of covariance, and by logistic or multinomial logistic regression analysis. In case of count data (e.g. frequency of headache), Poisson or negative binomial regressionwill be used. The resultswill be primarily analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Results: The protocol and the therapeutic exercise modules with its execution will be presented in WCPT 2015 congress. Conclusion(s):Women having headache are typical customers of physiotherapists. The participants in this study are outpatients, and the procedure to enrol the participants to the study reminds clinical process. This study evaluates the effects of specific therapeutic exercise on frequency, intensity and duration of cervicogenic headache, and the use and dose of medicaments by daily/weekly diaries during the baseline and weekly during the 6-month training period will be very valuable information because this kind of information is very seldom reported. Implications: Therapeutic exercise regimen for cervicogenic headache provides a protocol for physiotherapists in clinical use.