Table 2.
Effectiveness of the specific exercise intervention on headache characteristics, cervical muscles strength and thickness, cervical range of motion, and pressure pain threshold.
| Variables | Group | PRE Mean ± SD [95% CI] | POST Mean ± SD [95% CI] | Value of p txg | η2p txg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headache characteristics | |||||
| (Primary outcomes) | |||||
| Frequency of the headaches (days/month) | IG | 10.1 ± 9.5 [5.8, 13.8] | 7.4 ± 7.7 [3.4, 10.8] | 0.109 | 0.083 |
| CG | 10.5 ± 7.2 [6.1, 15.8] | 10.1 ± 7.9 [6.0, 14.9] | |||
| Duration of the headaches (hours) | IG | 18.3 ± 7.5 [14.8, 22.3] | 11.3 ± 8.7 [7.3, 15.5] | *0.007 | 0.217 |
| CG | 14.0 ± 8.3 [9.2, 18.2] | 13.6 ± 8.6 [8.5, 18.4] | |||
| Intensity of the headaches (VAS) | IG | 6.9 ± 1.3 [6.4, 7.7] | 5.1 ± 2.1 [4.1, 5.9] | *0.001 | 0.296 |
| CG | 7.1 ± 1.6 [6.1, 7.5] | 6.9 ± 1.6 [5.8, 8.0] | |||
| Secondary Outcomes | |||||
| Cervical muscles thickness (cm) | |||||
| Right multifidus (relaxed) | IG | 1.1 ± 0.2 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | *0.044 | 0.129 |
| CG | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | |||
| Right multifidus (contracted) | IG | 1.2 ± 0.3 | 1.3 ± 0.3 | *0.001 | 0.297 |
| CG | 1.4 ± 0.2 | 1.4 ± 0.2 | |||
| Left multifidus (relaxed) | IG | 1.1 ± 0.2 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 0.166 | 0.063 |
| CG | 1.2 ± 0.3 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | |||
| Left multifidus (contracted) | IG | 1.3 ± 0.3 | 1.3 ± 0.3 | 0.127 | 0.076 |
| CG | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | |||
| Right deep flexors (relaxed) | IG | 0.9 ± 0.2 | 1.0 ± 0.2 | 0.092 | 0.092 |
| CG | 1.0 ± 0.2 | 1.0 ± 0.2 | |||
| Right deep flexors (contracted) | IG | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 1.3 ± 0.2 | * < 0.001 | 0.474 |
| CG | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 1.1 ± 0.2 | |||
| Left deep flexors (relaxed) | IG | 0.9 ± 0.2 | 1.0 ± 0.2 | 0.118 | 0.08 |
| CG | 1.0 ± 0.2 | 1.0 ± 0.2 | |||
| Left deep flexors (contracted) | IG | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 1.3 ± 0.2 | *0.003 | 0.251 |
| CG | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | |||
| Cervical range of motion (degrees) | |||||
| Flexion | IG | 60.3 ± 13.4 | 64.3 ± 12.9 | 0.361 | 0.028 |
| CG | 62.5 ± 10.5 | 63.5 ± 10.4 | |||
| Extension | IG | 63.1 ± 9.0 | 65.1 ± 6.2 | 0.78 | 0.003 |
| CG | 56.2 ± 10.7 | 57.4 ± 9.7 | |||
| Rotation | IG | 128.3 ± 16.2 | 132.4 ± 12.1 | 0.31 | 0.033 |
| CG | 126.5 ± 12.4 | 126.1 ± 14.1 | |||
| Lateral flexion | IG | 73.3 ± 12.7 | 81.4 ± 18.3 | *0.002 | 0.269 |
| CG | 70.9 ± 8.0 | 71.7 ± 10.1 | |||
| Pain pressure threshold (kg/cm2) | |||||
| Right temporalis | IG | 2.5 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | * < 0.001 | 0.392 |
| CG | 2.8 ± 0.9 | 2.6 ± 0.8 | |||
| Left temporalis | IG | 2.3 ± 0.7 | 3.0 ± 0.7 | * < 0.001 | 0.341 |
| CG | 2.5 ± 0.9 | 2.5 ± 0.9 | |||
| Right upper trapezius | IG | 3.0 ± 0.8 | 3.6 ± 0.8 | *0.047 | 0.125 |
| CG | 3.8 ± 1.5 | 3.6 ± 1.5 | |||
| Left upper trapezius | IG | 3.3 ± 1.0 | 3.8 ± 1.0 | *0.022 | 0.163 |
| CG | 3.6 ± 1.7 | 3.3 ± 1.3 | |||
| Right masseter | IG | 1.9 ± 0.6 | 2.4 ± 0.6 | 0.165 | 0.063 |
| CG | 2.1 ± 0.8 | 2.2 ± 0.7 | |||
| Left masseter | IG | 1.9 ± 0.5 | 2.5 ± 0.6 | * < 0.001 | 0.332 |
| CG | 2.3 ± 1.0 | 2.1 ± 0.6 | |||
| Right median nerve | IG | 3.4 ± 1.1 | 3.8 ± 1.1 | 0.184 | 0.058 |
| CG | 3.7 ± 1.3 | 3.3 ± 1.1 | |||
| Left median nerve | IG | 3.5 ± 1.1 | 3.9 ± 1.0 | *0.039 | 0.134 |
| CG | 3.8 ± 1.4 | 3.3 ± 0.9 | |||
| Right tibialis | IG | 6.3 ± 1.0 | 7.0 ± 0.5 | 0.891 | 0.001 |
| CG | 6.3 ± 2.1 | 6.8 ± 1.7 | |||
| Left tibialis | IG | 6.7 ± 0.3 | 7.2 ± 0.7 | 0.861 | 0.001 |
| CG | 6.5 ± 1.9 | 6.9 ± 1.7 | |||
| Cervical flexion test (mm Hg) | IG | 20.8 ± 1.2 | 23.7 ± 1.5 | * < 0.001 | 0.464 |
| CG | 21.3 ± 1.8 | 21.5 ± 1.8 | |||
IG, intervention group; CG, control group; η2 p txg: effect size time x group; CI: confidence interval; SD: Standard Deviation. Differences between groups were evaluated using two-way repeated measure ANCOVA with Bonferroni. Significance was set at < 0.05. Bold values means: statistically significant difference between groups.