Effects of Dry Needling of the Obliquus Capitis Inferior in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache and Upper Cervical Dysfunction: An Exploratory Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Cervicogenic headache (CeH) is linked to upper cervical dysfunctions. The obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) muscle may contribute to restricted cervical rotation at the C1-C2 level, altered proprioception and pain. Dry needling (DN) of the OCI is hypothesized to target these dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a single intervention combining DN and manual therapy (MT) compared to sham needling (SN) and MT, improves C1-C2 rotation, functional, headache-related and psychological outcomes in a subgroup of CeH patients with a positive cervical flexion-rotation test (CFRT). Methods: Thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to (1) DN or (2) SN. The primary outcome was C1-C2 rotational mobility. Secondary outcomes included heada

SUBMITTER: Chys M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12471241 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature