Cervicogenic headaches, or headaches referred from the neck, occur in about 2.5% of adults. While most people treat their headaches with medication, research is showing that exercise may be a better long-term solution, particularly for chronic neck pain. Researcher Jari Ylinen MD, PhD from Central Hospital in Finland and his colleagues investigated the effects of Thera-Band® strengthening exercises and endurance exercises in patients with headaches and arm pain associated with neck pain. His findings were published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Previously, Dr. Ylinen published landmark studies showing Thera-Band cervical exercises “relieve or even completely eliminate pain and restore function in patients with chronic neck pain.” His most recent study investigated the same program in patients with neck pain and headaches. In the blinded, randomized controlled trial, 180 female office workers with head and neck pain were assigned to a strengthening group, endurance training, or control group.

Training methods. Both training groups started with 2 weeks of clinical rehabilitation and a home exercise program, 5 days per week. The endurance group exercised by lifting their head up from supine for 3 sets of 20, while the strengthening group used a dynamic isometric Thera-Band exercise in a sitting position for 1 set of 15 More >