OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of the massage method of micro-regulating with vertical cross pressing lying on one side in treating cervicogenic headache (CEH).

METHODSTotal 136 patients with CEH were collected in the study from August 2012 to April 2014. They were divided randomly into two groups according to random digits table. Sixty-nine patients accepted the treatment of micro-regulating with vertical cross pressing lying on one side (pressing micro-regulating group), including 29 males and 40 females with an average age of (50.55 ± 11.38) years old; 67 patients received the treatment of traditional massage (traditional massage group), including 28 males and 39 females with an average age of (51.20 ± 11.90) years old. Clinical effect was observed according to the standard of curative effect of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; the function of cervical vertebra and all body status were evaluated according to NDI score. VAS score, frequency and time of headache were recorded and compared before and after treatment.

RESULTSNo adverse reactions were found after treatment, all patients were followed up from 1 to 6 months with an average of 3.1 months. In pressing micro-regulating group, 25 cases got fully recover, 26 excellence, 14 effectiveness and 4 inefficiency; and in traditional massage group, the results were 12,21,22, 12;clinical effect of pressing micro-regulating group was better than that of traditional massage group (P<0.01). NDI score in pressing micro-regulating group decreased from preoperative 13.48 ± 4.83 to postoperative 6.23 ± 3.76; in traditional massage group also decreased from preoperative 13.82 ± 5.78 to postoperative 8.25 ± 4.75; the improvement of the pressing micro-regulating group was obviously better than that of traditional massage group (P < 0.01). VAS score in pressing micro-regulating group decreased from preoperative 4.75 ± 0.97 to postoperative 1.88 ± 1.78; and in traditional massage group decreased from pre-operative 4.78 ± 0.98 to postoperative 2.84 ± 1.94; pressing micro-regulating group was more notable than that of traditional massage group (P < 0.01). The frequency per week,the pain time in pressing micro-regulating group decreased from preoperative (5.38 ± 1.96) times and (6.87 ± 3.67) hours to postoperative (1.71 ± 2.04) times and (0.97 ± 1.74) hours,respectively,in traditional massage group the above parameters decreased from preoperative (5.22 ± 1.81) times and (6.90 ± 3.79) hours to postoperative (2.81 ± 2.42) times and (1.83 ± 2.21) hours;pressing micr-regulating group was more notable than that of traditional massage group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUsing the tuina method of micro-regulating with vertical cross pressing lying on one side to treat CEH can improve function of cervical vertebra and all body status, lessen the intensity, frequency, duration time of pain, and had advantage of higher security, simple operation, and evident effect.