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Tension Headache and Physical Therapy with TENS
Tension Headaches, Muscle Contraction Headache, and Stress Headache
Tension headache is very common and is typically experienced as a dull, non-throbbing pain in the back of the neck or in a "headband" distribution.
Two controlled studies found physical therapy (relaxation techniques, self-massage, cold therapy, TENS, stretching, and/or preventive education) as useful as acupuncture in significantly reducing headache pain and frequency. 1, 2 A preliminary study also found that physical therapy, consisting of posture education, home exercises, massage, and stretching of the neck muscles, significantly improved tension headaches up to 12 months after treatment ended. 3 Another preliminary study of massage, including deep penetrating techniques, reported significantly decreased pain in patients with chronic tension headache and neck pain. 4 A controlled study of headache patients with muscle spasm in the neck and shoulders found that adding TENS to physical therapy (consisting of heat packs, massage, and ultrasound) brought a significantly faster and greater decline in headaches than physical therapy alone. 5
References
- Ahonen E, Hakumaki M, Mahlamaki S, et al. Effectiveness of
acupuncture and physiotherapy on myogenic headache: a comparative study.
Acupunct Electrother Res 1984;9:141-50.
- Carlsson J, Augustinsson LE, Blomstrand C, Sullivan M.
Health status in patients with tension headache treated with acupuncture or
physiotherapy. Headache 1990;30:593-9.
- Hammjill JM, Cook TM, Rosecrance JC. Effectiveness of
a physical therapy regimen in the treatment of tension-type headache.
Headache 1996;36:149-53.
- Puustjarvi K, Airaksinen O, Pontinen PJ. The effects
of massage in patients with chronic tension headache. Acupunct Electrother
Res 1990;15:159-62.
- Jay GW, Brunson J, Branson SJ. The effectiveness of
physical therapy in the treatment of chronic daily headaches. Headache
1989;29:156-62.
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