Effects of Osteopathic Treatment in Patients With Tension Type Headache

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the suboccipital muscles inhibition technique on patients suffering from tension-type headaches.

Detailed Description
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The tension-type headache is a recurrent condition with a high financial repercussion in Portugal. Their side effects often impact daily activities, reducing the quality of life of the patients. In several studies, the excessive tension of the suboccipital muscles are usually referred as a cause of tension-type headache, since they can exert tension on the dura mater through the myodural bridge.

Official Title
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Effects of Osteopathic Treatment in Patients With Tension Type Headache

Conditions
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Tension-Type Headache

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Cranial listening technique
* Other: Suboccipital muscles inhibition technique


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: They must have tension-type headache, that is, a headache with: a duration of at least 30 min to days, with or without an break; must have at least two of the following four characteristics: bilateral location pressure or squeezing quality (non throbbing) weak or moderate intensity not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs; must have both of the following criteria: only one of the following: photophobia, phonophobia, or mild nausea absence of moderate or severe nausea or vomiting. Exclusion Criteria: They can't be on antibiotics, antivirals, or antidepressants; They can't have neurological problems; They shouldn't have any absolute contraindication for the osteopathic maneuvers; They can't have acute pathologies (ex: infection) or serious (ex: cancer); They can't have fractures in the skull, cervical spine or high dorsal spine (up to D4); They can't be pregnant.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

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 |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: Control Group<br>The investigator will perform a cranial listening technique. | Other: Cranial listening technique<br>* 5 minutes<br>|
| Experimental: Suboccipital muscles inhibition<br>The investigator will perform a suboccipital muscles inhibition technique. | Other: Suboccipital muscles inhibition technique<br>* 6 minutes<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Frequency | Measured by monthly counting. | One month after first intervention | 
| Intensity | Measured by visual analogue scale (VAS). It goes from 0 to 10, 0 being the minimum pain intensity and 10 the maximum pain intensity. | One month after first intervention | 
| Impact on quality of life questionnaire | Measured by questionnaire. The questionnaire attribuates a score after answering six questions. The lowest score a participant can obtain is 36, which corresponds to the lowest impact on quality of life. The highest score a participant can obtain is 78, which corresponds to the highest impact on quality of life. | one month after first intervention |