Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years - 65Years
All Genders
ID06229834

Chiropractic Care for Episodic Migraine

Led by Brigham and Women's Hospital · Updated on 2025-07-09

60

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

56 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

B

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Lead Sponsor

P

Palmer College of Chiropractic

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Migraine is a chronic intermittent headache disorder that ranks among the top five causes of years lived with disability. Many people with migraines are interested in non-drug and integrative treatments to reduce how often and how severely they experience attacks. This research aims to study chiropractic care as a possible treatment option for episodic migraine, helping to prepare for a larger future trial that will fully evaluate this approach. The study is a pilot randomized trial with two groups. One group will receive 14 chiropractic care sessions, starting with 6 visits over 3-5 weeks followed by 8 visits over 12 weeks. The chiropractic care includes posture correction exercises, spinal manipulation, soft tissue relaxation, breathing and relaxation techniques, stretches, ergonomic advice, and supports. The other group will receive 14 interactive 15-minute headache health education sessions via video conference. Both groups will continue their usual medical care throughout the study. Participants will be involved for about 24 weeks, including baseline and follow-up periods. Researchers will collect data on migraine frequency, severity, duration, medication use, disability, quality of life, and exercise habits. They will also assess recruitment and retention rates, adherence to treatments, and participant expectations. The study includes various questionnaires and diaries to monitor these outcomes, supporting the development of a larger trial in the future.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Chiropractic Care for Episodic Migraine

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 65Years
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Age 18-65 years
  • Confirmed diagnosis of migraine with or without aura not meeting criteria for chronic migraine
  • History of migraines for at least one year
  • Completed at least 26 headache diary days out of 28
  • Migraine frequency of 4 to 13 days per month during run-in period
  • Stable medication dose for migraine or non-migraine pain conditions for at least 2 months prior
  • Willing and able to complete all study procedures and be randomized
  • Fluent in English
  • Access to and ability to use a smartphone, computer, or tablet
  • Has or willing to create a working email address
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Not a Veteran (VAMC only)
  • Received botulinum toxin treatment for headache or neck pain within 4 months before baseline
  • Received chiropractic care within 3 months before baseline
  • Received behavioral interventions for headache within past 3 months
  • Used neuromodulation or investigational headache medications/devices within 2-3 months before screening
  • Diagnosis of medication overuse headache
  • Traumatic brain injury within 1 year before screening or worsening migraine
  • Head or neck trauma within past year causing neurological or musculoskeletal symptoms requiring treatment
  • Medical, neurologic, or psychiatric conditions that interfere with study participation or safety
  • Psychiatric hospitalization within last 6 months
  • Receiving hospice or palliative care
  • History of carotid or vertebral artery dissection
  • Presence of carotid bruits
  • Contraindications for spinal manipulation or mobilization (e.g., spinal instability, malignancy, fractures, hematomas, inflammatory arthritis, bone-weakening disorders)
  • Vertebrobasilar insufficiency syndrome
  • Aneurysm involving major blood vessel in manipulation area
  • History of stroke
  • On anticoagulant therapy or with bleeding disorders
  • Cervical spine congenital anomalies or prior cervical spine surgery
  • Current alcohol or substance use disorder within past 6 months
  • Hormone replacement therapy less than 6 months or unstable dose
  • Significant cognitive impairment
  • Currently pregnant or planning pregnancy within 6 months

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Run-in Period

Duration - 4 weeks

Participants complete a 4-week run-in phase during which baseline migraine frequency and severity are recorded before randomization.

Diary entries completed daily

Treatment

Duration - Approximately 15 weeks

Participants are randomized to receive either chiropractic care consisting of 14 visits over approximately 15 weeks or 14 interactive 15-minute headache health education sessions delivered via videoconference, both in addition to usual medical care.

14 visits for chiropractic care or 14 virtual education sessions

Follow-up

Duration - Up to 5 weeks

Participants are monitored for retention, adherence, and migraine outcomes for up to 5 weeks after treatment completion.

Follow-up assessments during scheduled visits

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Osher Center for Integrative Health, Mass General Brigham

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

P

Pamela M Rist, ScD

V

Viviane Nguyen, BS

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

DOUBLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

OTHER

Number of Arms

2

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Published Research Related To This Trial

Nonpharmacological Self-Management of Migraine Across Social Locations: An Equity-Oriented, Qualitative Analysis.

Deanna R Befus, Sharon Hull, Justine Strand de Oliveira...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31223518

Integrating Chiropractic Care Into the Treatment of Migraine Headaches in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Case Series.

Carolyn Bernstein, Peter M Wayne, Pamela M Rist...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30944771

Perceptions of Chiropractic Care Among Women With Migraine: A Qualitative Substudy Using a Grounded-Theory Framework.

Julie P Connor, Carolyn Bernstein, Karen Kilgore...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33431279