Is the cervical lordosis a key biomechanical biomarker in cervicogenic headache?: a Chiropractic Biophysics^® case report with follow-up

Abstract

[Purpose] To present the successful structural improvement in cervical lordosis in a patient suffering from cervicogenic headache having cervical kyphosis. [Participant and Methods] A 26 year old female presented with the primary complaint of headache. Radiography demonstrated a cervical kyphosis. Chiropractic BioPhysics ® methods were used to restore the cervical spine alignment. Twenty-five treatments were given over 8 weeks. A 2.5 year follow-up was also reported. [Results] Radiography showed a dramatic increase in cervical lordosis following initial treatment. The patient also reported substantial reductions in headache frequency and severity as well as other bodily improvements, reduced disability and improved quality of life. The long-term follow-up showed a maintenance of lordosis correction and patient wellness. [Conclusion] A cervical kyphosis was reversed back to a normal lordosis in 8 weeks and coincided with dramatic resolution of cervicogenic headache in a young female. The cervical lordosis may be a key biomechanical biomarker in cervicogenic headache.

Structural rehabilitation of the cervical lordosis and forward head posture: a selective review of Chiropractic BioPhysics^® case reports

“…Alternatively, patients who receive treatment that includes a form of extension traction to restore lordotic alignment and reduce AHT, who present with hypolordosis, experience relief of symptoms that remains up to 2 years 22) . This trend points to the cervical lordosis and sagittal postural alignment as being important biomechanical biomarkers in those who suffer from craniocervical disorders, as has been suggested in the treatment of headaches 31) , dizziness 37) and whiplash associated disorders 50) .…”

“…Sixty individual patients were reported to be treated by CBP methods to restore the cervical lordosis and/or reduce AHT as reported in 41 peer-reviewed manuscripts (Table 1). The majority of cases were located from the CBP NP website, however, 5 more cases were located from searchers on Pubmed (n=1 31) ) ICL (n=1 32) ) and ResearchGate (n=3 [33][34][35] ). Not including the series by Shahar 71) (reported group average only), on average, there was a 14.1° improvement in cervical lordosis after an average of 40 treatments over an average of 16 weeks.…”

Headache Characteristics in Chronic Neck Pain Patients with Loss of Cervical Lordosis: A Cross-Sectional Study Considering Cervicogenic Headache

“…It has been suggested that loss of cervical lordosis may be a diagnostic biomechanical biomarker for cervicogenic headache [7]. Indeed, both loss of cervical lordosis and cervicogenic headache have similar soft-tissue abnormalities, including weakness and atrophy in the neck muscles [3,4,8,9].…”

“…Therefore, there are many challenges of definitive and differential diagnosis of headaches, and a more specific finding is required for cervical origin of headache [18]. In this respect, loss of cervical lordosis has been put forward as a diagnostic biomechanical biomarker for cervicogenic headache [7]. However, it is not known whether headache characteristics in the loss of cervical lordosis are compatible with cervicogenic headache.…”

Re-establishing the cervical lordosis after whiplash: a Chiropractic Biophysics^® spinal corrective care methods pre-auto injury and post-auto injury case report with follow-up

“…The alignment of the cervical spine is becoming recognized as an important biomechanical biomarker in the health and wellness of patients who present with various craniocervical ailments including neck pains, headaches, dizziness, etc 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) .…”