High Power Laser on Suboccipital Myoelectrical Activities and Quality of Life in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache

Cervicogenic headache is a classification of headache in which pain is referred from the cervical spine. This category of headache is typically chronic, presented as unilateral cephalgia, spreading over the occipital, temporal, and frontal regions and is believed to be caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction of the neck. In high-power laser therapy (HPLT) there is an increase in mitochondrial oxidative reaction and adenosine phosphate (photobiology effect). The pain-releasing effect of HPLT is provided by reducing the transmission of painful stimuli and increased morphine mimetic factors. It has rapidly induced photochemical and photothermal effects, increasing blood flow, cell metabolism, and vascular permeability. In a recent study on exercise for cervicogenic headache, Subjects reported significant decreases in the frequency, intensity, and duration of their headaches. To our knowledge there is no study was found to investigate the effect of high-power laser therapy (HPLT) on myoelectrical activities of suboccipital muscles, pain and functional activities in patients with cervicogenic headache. So, this study aimed to determine the effect of high power laser therapy (HPLT) on myoelectrical activities of suboccipital muscles , pain and quality of life in patients with cervicogenic headache.