Tension-type headache. Narrative review of physiotherapy treatment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23938/ASSN.0379Keywords:
Tension-type headache. Physiotherapy. Manual therapy. Therapeutic exercise.Abstract
Introduction. Headache is a very common phenomenon with a high economic and psychosocial impact. Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent (40%), especially amongst adult western women. The aim was to evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy techniques in treating TTH.
Methods. Literature review of randomised clinical trials (RCT) and systematic reviews, published over the last five years, on the physiotherapy techniques most used in treating TTH: therapeutic exercise, suboccipital inhibition, cervical manipulation, massage, joint mobilisation and puncture.
Results. Twenty-six articles (seven reviews) met the criteria for inclusion. The reviews found evidence of the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise on the intensity, frequency and duration of pain. Improvement was also achieved by manual therapy in a similar way to medicines (although with contradictory long-term results), by the combination of dry puncture and physiotherapy on the VAS score, and by the combination of mobilisation techniques with stretching and muscular massage, but not separately. Amongst other results, the RCT showed that massage achieved less pain and frequency, as well as better quality of life, perceived clinical sensation and range of movement; pain improved with suboccipital inhibition and aerobic exercises; and the range of movement with cervical manipulation, massage of soft tissues and mobilisation.
Conclusion. The published clinical evidence endorses physiotherapy as an effective treatment in managing patients with TTH, although additional studies with a better quality methodology are required.
Downloads
References
International Association for the Study of Pain. IASP Taxonomy. (Consultado 16-08-17): Disponible en http://www.iasp-pain.or.
Headache classification commitee of the International Headache Society. Classification and Diagnosis criteria for Headache disorders, cranial neuralgias and facial pain. Cephalalgia 1988; 8 (Suppl 7): 1-96.
The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version) Cephalalgia 2013; 33 (Suppl 9): 629-808.
VICENTE-HERRERO MT, TERRADILLOS GMJ. El coste de la incapacidad temporal por cefaleas en España. Neurol Arg 2014; 6: 199-200.
STEINE TJ, STOVNER LJ, KATSARAVA Z, LAINEZ JM, LAMPL C, LANTERI-MINET M et al. The impact of headache in Europe: principal results of the Eurolight project. J Headache Pain 2014; 21: 15- 31.
SAHLER K. Epidemiology and cultural differences in tension-type headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2012; 16: 525-532.
PRESSMAN A, JACOBSON A, EGUILOS R, GELFAND A, HUYNH C, HAMILTON L, y Col. Prevalence of migraine in a diverse community--electronic methods for migraine ascertainment in a large integrated health plan. Cephalalgia 2016; 36: 325-334.
WATSON DH, DRUMMOND PD. The role of the trigemino cervical complex in chronic whiplash associated headache: a cross sectional study. Headache 2016; 56: 961-975.
WATSON DH, DRUMMOND PD. Head pain referral during examination of the neck in migraine and tension-type headache. Headache 2012; 52: 1226-1235.
ASHINA S, BENDTSEN L, LYNGBERG AC, LIPTON RB, HAJIYEVA N, JENSEN R. Prevalence of neck pain in migraine and tension-type headache: a population study. Cephalalgia 2015; 35: 211-219.
DUGAILLY PM, DECUYPER A, SALEM W, DE BOE A, ESPI-LOPEZ GV, LEPERS Y. Analysis of the upper cervical spine stiffness during axial rotation: A comparative study among patients with tension-type headache or migraine and asymptomatic subjects .Clin Biomech 2017; 42: 128-133.
FERNANDEZ-DE-LAS-PENAS C, FERNANDEZ-MAYORALAS DM, ORTEGA-SANTIAGO R, AMBITE-QUESADA S, PALACIOS-CENA D, PAREJA JA. Referred pain from myofascial trigger points in head and neck-shoulder muscles reproduces head pain features in children with chronic tension type headache. J Headache Pain 2011 ; 12: 35-43.
LUEDTKE K, BOISSONNAULT W, CASPERSEN N, CASTIEN R, CHAIBI A, FALLA D et al. International consensus on the most useful physical examination tests used by physiotherapists for patients with headache: A Delphi study. ManTher 2016; 23: 17-24.
GIL-MARTINEZ A, KINDELAN-CALVO P, AGUDO-CARMONA D, MUNOZ-PLATA R, LOPEZ-DE-URALDE-VILLANUEVA I, LA TOUCHE R. Therapeutic exercise as treatment for migraine and tension-type headaches: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Rev Neurol 2013; 57: 433-443.
CASTIEN R, BLANKENSTEIN A, DE HERTOGH W. Pressure pain and isometric strength of neck flexors are related in chronic tension-type headache. Pain Physician 2015; 18: 201-205.
KUMAR S, RAJE A. Effect of progressive muscular relaxation exercises versus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on tension headache: a comparative study. Hong Kong Physiotherapy J 2014; 32: 86-91.
CHOI SY, CHOI JH. The effects of cervical traction, cranial rhythmic impulse, and Mckenzie exercise on headache and cervical muscle stiffness in episodic tension-type headache patients. J Phys Ther Sci 2016; 28: 837-843.
TORNOE B, ANDERSEN LL, SKOTTE JH, JENSEN R, JENSEN C, MADSEN BK et al. Specific strength training compared with interdisciplinary counseling for girls with tension-type headache: a randomized controlled trial. J Pain Res 2016; 9: 257-270.
SERTEL M, BAKAR Y, SIMSEK TT. The effect of body awareness therapy and aerobic exercises on pain and quality of life in the patients with tension type headache. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2017; 14: 288-310.
COCERA MORATA FM, OLIVA PASCUAL-VACA J. Técnica de inhibición de la musculatura suboccipital. Eur J Ost Rel Clin Res 2014; 9: 21-24.
ESPÍ-LÓPEZ GV, GÓMEZ-CONESA A. Efficacy of manual and manipulative therapy in the perception of pain and cervical motion in patients with tension-type headache: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Chiropr Med 2014; 13: 4-13.
ESPÍ-LÓPEZ GV, GÓMEZ-CONESA A, GÓMEZ AA, MARTÍNEZ JB, PASCUAL-VACA AO, BLANCO CR. Treatment of tension-type headache with articulatory and suboccipital soft tissue therapy: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2014; 18: 576-585.
ESPI-LOPEZ GV, RODRIGUEZ-BLANCO C, OLIVA-PASCUAL-VACA A, BENITEZ-MARTINEZ JC, LLUCH E, FALLA D. Effect of manual therapy techniques on headache disability in patients with tension-type headache. Randomized controlled trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2014; 50: 641-647.
ESPI-LOPEZ GV, RODRIGUEZ-BLANCO C, OLIVA-PASCUAL-VACA A, MOLINA-MARTINEZ F, FALLA D. Do manual therapy techniques have a positive effect on quality of life in people with tension-type headache? A randomized controlled trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2016; 52: 447-456.
PALACIOS-CENA M, BARBERO M, FALLA D, GHIRLANDA F, AREND-NIELSEN L, FERNANDEZ-DE-LAS-PENAS C. Pain extent is associated with the emotional and physical burdens of chronic tension-type headache, but not with depression or anxiety. Pain Med 2017; 18: 2033-2039.
ESPÍ-LÓPEZ GV, LÓPEZ-BUENO L, VICENTE-HERRERO MT, MARTINEZ-ARNAU FM, MONZANI L. Efficacy of manual therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with tension-type headache. A randomized controlled clinical trial. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 2016; 22: 11-20.
ROLLE G, TREMOLIZZO L, SOMALVICO F, FERRARESE C, BRESSAN LC. Pilot trial of osteopathic manipulative therapy for patients with frequent episodic tension-type headache. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2014; 114: 678-685.
ROMERO-MORALES C, CABRERA-GUERRA M, GOMEZ-RUANO MA, JIMENEZ- SAIZ S. Efectividad de las técnicas de manipulación cervical versus técnica de compresión en puntos gatillo en pacientes con cefalea tensional. Fisioterapia 2015; 37: 67-74.
ESPI-LOPEZ GV, ZURRIAGA-LLORENS R, MONZANI L, FALLA D. The effect of manipulation plus massage therapy versus massage therapy alone in people with tension-type headache. A randomized controlled clinical trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2016; 52: 606-617.
MORALES-OSORIO M, KOCK-SCHULZ A, MENESES-ECHAVEZ J. Efectividad de la manipulación cervical en pacientes con cefalea de tipo tensional. Fisioterapia 2013; 35: 174-179.
FERRAGUT-GARCIAS A, PLAZA-MANZANO G, RODRIGUEZ-BLANCO C, VELASCO-ROLDAN O, PECOS-MARTIN D, OLIVA-PASCUAL-VACA J et al. Effectiveness of a treatment involving soft tissue techniques and/or neural mobilization techniques in the management of tension-type headache: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2017; 98: 211-219.
MORASKA AF, STENERSON L, BUTRYN N, KRUTSCH JP, SCHMIEGE SJ, MANN JD. Myofascial trigger point-focused head and neck massage for recurrent tension-type headache: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clin J Pain 2015; 31: 159-168.
RAHIM A, SEFFINGER MA. Myofascial trigger point release massage therapy relieves tension-type headaches. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2016; 116: 55-56.
CHATCHAWAN U, EUNGPINICHPONG W, SOOKTHO S, TIAMKAO S, YAMAUCHI J. Effects of Thai traditional massage on pressure pain threshold and headache intensity in patients with chronic tension-type and migraine headaches. J Altern Complement Med 2014; 20: 486-492
ESPI-LOPEZ GV, ARNAL-GOMEZ A, ARBOS-BERENGUER T, GONZALEZ AA, VICENTE-HERRERO T. Effectiveness of physical therapy in patients with tension-type headache: literature review. J Jpn Phys Ther Assoc 2014; 17: 31-38
FRANCE S, BOWN J, NOWOSILSKYJ M, MOTT M, RAND S, WALTERS J. Evidence for the use of dry needling and physiotherapy in the management of cervicogenic or tension-type headache: a systematic review. Cephalalgia 2014; 34: 994-1003
VON PIEKARTZ H, HALL T. Orofacial manual therapy improves cervical movement impairment associated with headache and features of temporomandibular dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial. Man Ther 2013; 18: 345-350
CHAIBI A, RUSSELL MB. Manual therapies for primary chronic headaches: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Headache Pain 2014; 15:67
LOZANO LOPEZ C, MESA JIMENEZ J, DE LA HOZ AIZPURUA JL, PAREJA GRANDE J, FERNANDEZ DE LAS PENAS C. Efficacy of manual therapy in the treatment of tension-type headache. A systematic review from 2000-2013. Neurologia 2016; 31: 357-369.
MESA-JIMENEZ JA, LOZANO-LOPEZ C, ANGULO-DIAZ-PARRENO S, RODRIGUEZ-FERNANDEZ AL, DE-LA-HOZ-AIZPURUA JL, FERNANDEZ-DE-LAS-PENAS C. Multimodal manual therapy vs. pharmacological care for management of tension type headache: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Cephalalgia 2015; 35: 1323-1332.
KRISTOFFERSEN ES, GRANDE RB, AASETH K, LUNDQVIST C, RUSSELL MB. Management of primary chronic headache in the general population: the Akershus study of chronic headache. J Headache Pain 2012; 13: 113-120.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 Anales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
La revista Anales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra es publicada por el Departamento de Salud del Gobierno de Navarra (España), quien conserva los derechos patrimoniales (copyright ) sobre el artículo publicado y favorece y permite la difusión del mismo bajo licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-SA 4.0). Esta licencia permite copiar, usar, difundir, transmitir y exponer públicamente el artículo, siempre que siempre que se cite la autoría y la publicación inicial en Anales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra, y se distinga la existencia de esta licencia de uso.
