The importance of manual therapy in occipital neuralgia case study

Abstract

Occipital neuralgia is defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) as unilateral or bilateralparoxysmal pain in the distribution of the greater, lesser, and third occipital nerves. The aim of this case study is to presentthe importance of manual therapy in occipital neuralgia treatment caused by stereotactic head frame employment.A 58-year-old female patient admitted to the physiotherapy practice for reason of headache, diagnosed as occipitalneuralgia, persist for one and a half year. The patient underwent three manual therapy treatment units, three weeksapart. Relief of pain and an increased ROM of the cervical spine was achieved. In 1-, 2- and 3-months follow-up, therewas no recurrence of pain and no deterioration of the examined functions. The use of manual therapy in the discussedproblem may be an effective form of treatment.