The Effect of Stretching Exercises and Caffeine Tablets on Reducing Headache after Spinal Anesthesia; A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: We performed this study to compare the effect of Caffeine and stretching exercise on Post Dural Puncture Headache (PDHP). Methods: In this Randomized Clinical Trial, 160 candidates for elective inguinal hernia surgery or varicocele surgery in Shahid Modares Hospital in Tehran, were assigned into the following groups using a computer-generated randomization table: caffeine group received Caffeine tablet (200 mg TDS); exercise group received stretching exercise; caffeine combine exercise group received Caffeine tablet (200 mg TDS ), and stretching exercise and control group received placebo tablets. After the end of the surgery, up to 48 h, the Visual analog scale (VAS) was recorded every 6hours by the same clinician. Results: The occurrence of PDPH was less in the caffeine and exercise combined group than in the control group. Also, the headache was more severe in the control group than in the caffeine group. Furthermore, the need for rescue analgesics was more in the control group than in the caffeine group. Conclusion: caffeine and exercise combined had better outcomes than placebo regarding PDHP.