Effects of Fascial Manipulation Technique versus Joint Cavitation on the Atlanto-Occipital Joint in Cervicogenic Headache Patients

Purpose: Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is a secondary headache originating from cervical spine dysfunction, particularly at the atlanto-occipital joint.It is prevalent among office workers due to sustained poor posture and mechanical overload.This study compared the effects of Fascial Manipulation Technique (FMT) and Joint Cavitation Therapy (JCT) on pain, cervical range of motion (ROM), headache severity, and neck-related disability in CEH patients.Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 36 office workers aged 25-40 years diagnosed with CEH.Participants were randomly divided into Group A (FMT) and Group B (JCT), receiving two sessions per week for six weeks.Outcome measures included the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Cervical Range of Motion (CROM), Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and Neck Disability Index (NDI), evaluated at baseline, midintervention, and post-intervention.Non-parametric statistical tests were applied due to non-normal data distribution. Results: Both interventions produced significant improvements;however, Group A (FMT) demonstrated greater clinical gains across all parameters.Statistically significant reductions were observed in pain (p=0.001),improved cervical ROM (p=0.002),lower HIT-6 (p=0.004), and reduced NDI scores (p=0.003).Conclusion: Fascial Manipulation Technique was more effective than Joint Cavitation Therapy in alleviating pain, enhancing cervical mobility, and reducing disability in cervicogenic headache patients.These findings highlight FMT as a superior manual approach for managing CEH in rehabilitation settings.