Muscle Treatment for Management of Pain & Disability in Tension-type Headache

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of treatments (massage therapy or ultrasound) directed at skeletal muscle for alleviating pain associated wtih tension headache.

Detailed Description
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Chronic or episodic forms of tension-type headache affect a high percentage of the population. Pain from tension-type headache (TTH) not only impacts personal well-being, but also poses a significant socioeconomic burden in terms of workdays lost and decreased worker productivity. Although TTH is the most prevalent of the headache disorders, there is a distinct lack of research with regards to specific treatments for this ailment in comparison to all other headache classifications, such as migraine. A muscular involvement is associated with TTH and is reported in the research literature as elevation in skeletal muscle tenderness, increased presence of active myofascial trigger point's, and physical abnormalities in cervical and cranial muscles. Thus, a treatment approach that addresses the skeletal musculature could be an important component in the management of TTH. The purpose of this randomized trial is to determine the effectiveness of two muscle oriented treatments on reducing pain and disability associated with TTH: massage therapy and ultrasound.

Official Title
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Muscle Treatment for Management of Pain & Disability in Tension-type Headache

Conditions
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Tension-type Headache

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: ultrasound
* Other: massage


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 2 or more tension-type headache episodes per week Headache episodes of 2 hours or longer Experiencing tension-type headache for 6 months or longer Exclusion Criteria: Migraine >1/month Presence of alternate forms of headache (e.g. cluster headache, medication-induced headache, headache caused by injury) The diagnosis of fibromyalgia, major depression, other neurological or cardiovascular disease Pregnancy Prior massage or ultrasound treatment for headaches

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 59 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Massage treatment<br> | Other: massage<br>* Twice weekly massage sessions for 6 weeks<br>* Other names: myofsacial trigger point therapy;|
| Experimental: Ultrasound<br> | Other: ultrasound<br>* Twice weekly ultrasound sessions for 6 weeks<br>|
| No Intervention: Wait-list<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Headache frequency |  | Measure is assessed daily for 14 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Headache Disability Index |  | Assessed at 4 time points over 14 weeks |