The effect of manual therapies on tension-type headache in patients who do not respond to drug therapy: a randomized clinical trial.
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: headaches, explained
A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of manual therapy for patients suffering from tension-type headaches (TTH) who did not respond to medication. The researchers found significant reductions in headache pain intensity, frequency, duration, and the need for pain medication after applying manual therapy. These findings suggest that manual therapy could be a beneficial alternative treatment option for managing TTH.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about headaches
- ✓Pain intensity decreased from 6.75 to 3.04 in the treatment group (P = 0.0001)
- ✓Headache frequency reduced from 5 to 2.33 (P = 0.004)
- ✓Duration of headaches dropped from 284.74 to 91.29 minutes (P = 0.002)
- ✓Tablet count decreased from 4.91 to 1.83 (P = 0.01)
- ✓Neck Disability Index (NDI) improved from 20.16 to 7.33 (P = 0.003)
What This Means for You
For individuals experiencing tension-type headaches, manual therapy may offer significant relief and reduce the reliance on medication, potentially improving the quality of life for those who have not found success with traditional treatments.
What This Means for Practitioners
Reflexology practitioners can incorporate manual therapy techniques into their treatment plans for patients with tension-type headaches to help enhance pain relief and reduce headache frequency.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Limitations: what it cannot tell you about headaches
The study had a small sample size of only 24 participants, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Headaches: common questions
What does this study say about headaches?
For individuals experiencing tension-type headaches, manual therapy may offer significant relief and reduce the reliance on medication, potentially improving the quality of life for those who have not found success with traditional treatments.
What did this study find?
Pain intensity decreased from 6.75 to 3.04 in the treatment group (P = 0.0001). Headache frequency reduced from 5 to 2.33 (P = 0.004). Duration of headaches dropped from 284.74 to 91.29 minutes (P = 0.002).
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 24 participants. It was published in The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, a Q2 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.
What are the limitations of this study?
The study had a small sample size of only 24 participants, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Related Research
Exploring the Efficacy of Plantar Reflexology as a Complementary Approach for Headache Management: A Comprehensive Review
Myofascial Release for the Treatment of Tension-Type, Cervicogenic Headache or Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Manual therapy in adults with tension-type headache: A systematic review.
Effectiveness of Mulligan manual therapy over exercise on headache frequency, intensity and disability for patients with migraine, tension-type headache and cervicogenic headache - a protocol of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.
Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario protocol for traffic injury management (OPTIMa) collaboration.
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