An assessment of two chiropractic management programmes with respect to frequency of treatment of migraine headaches

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the most beneficial chiropractic management programme with respect to frequency of treatments for migraine headaches. It was hypothesised that an intensive treatment programme would be most effective. Thirty four (34) patients were accepted into this single blind, randomised trial, however only thirty (30) patients were compliant. Only patients diagnosed with migraine were accepted. The sample group was drawn from a population of migraine sufferers from t.,hegreater Durban area, and they were randomly divided into the two treatment groups. Both treatment groups received chiropractic adjustments to fixations found in the cervical and thoracic spines, as well as soft tissue massage to the above-mentioned areas. The only difference was the treatment periods, where the intensive treatment group was treated nine times in three weeks and the conservative treatment group was treated nine times in nine weeks. Both groups were re-evaluated after a six week followup period. Only subjective measurements were taken, all tabulated weekly I by each patient in the headache diaries provided.l6