Effect of High-Power Laser Therapy on Myoelectrical Activities of Suboccipital Muscles and Quality of Life in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache

BACKGROUND: Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a secondary disorder caused by cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction in the cervical vertebrae, with involvement of the upper three cervical segments. The pain initiates in the neck and is often intensified by head or neck movements. This condition imposes a considerable socioeconomic burden, affecting both community well-being and public health systems. OBJECTIVE: To explore how high-power laser therapy influences pain intensity, suboccipital muscle activity, functional disability, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with CGH. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 40 participants (both males and females) diagnosed with CGH for a duration of at least 6 months, experiencing unilateral neck pain radiating to the suboccipital region. Participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups. The study group (A) received high-power Laser therapy in addition to a conventional physical therapy program, while the control group (B) received a placebo laser alongside the same conventional physical therapy program. Both groups received 3 times per week for 6 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45-60 min. Outcome measures included the visual analog scale for pain intensity measurement, electromyography (EMG) to assess suboccipital muscle myoelectric activity, the Headache Impact Test-6 questionnaire to assess participants' functional health and well-being, the Neck Disability Index to assess functional impairment, and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey to evaluate QoL. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention (6 weeks). RESULTS: Group A showed statistically significant improvements in pain intensity, EMG parameters, functional disability, headache impact, and QoL compared with Group B. CONCLUSIONS: High-power laser therapy, when used alongside conventional physiotherapy, may be an effective approach for reducing symptoms and improving functional outcomes in patients with CGH.