Year: 2026 | Month: July | Volume: 13 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 480-484
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260750
Effectiveness of Cervical Stretching Combined with Cervical Strengthening Exercises on Pain and Disability in a Patient with Migraine: A Case Study
Chaithra B Shetty1, Sreejisha P K2, Meenakshi Radhakrishnan3
1Assistant Professor, Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
2Assistant Professor, Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
3Intern, Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Karnataka, India
Corresponding Author: Meenakshi Radhakrishnan
ABSTRACT
Background: Frequent headache attacks and the functional impairment they cause define migraine, a prevalent neurological condition. Migraine sufferers may be at increased risk for cervical musculoskeletal problems. Physiotherapy interventions targeting the cervical region may help reduce pain and disability.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of cervical stretching combined with cervical strengthening exercises on pain intensity and migraine-related disability in a patient with migraine.
Methodology: A case study was conducted on a 22-year-old male diagnosed with migraine. The patient underwent a four-week intervention consisting of cervical stretching and cervical strengthening exercises. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to quantify pain intensity, and the Migraine impairment Assessment Scale was used to measure impairment linked to migraines both before and after the intervention.
Results: Following four weeks of intervention, improvements were observed in both pain intensity and disability. From 8 out of 10 before therapy to 6 out of 10 after treatment, the Visual Analogue Scale score dropped. The Migraine Disability Assessment Scale score improved from moderate disability (score range: 11–20) to mild disability (score range: 6–10).
Conclusion: Cervical stretching combined with cervical strengthening exercises improved pain intensity and migraine-related disability in this patient with migraine. These exercises may be considered as an adjunct physiotherapy intervention in the management of migraine.
Keywords: Migraine, cervical stretching, cervical strengthening, pain, disability, case study.
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