Muscle contraction (tension) headache.
Muscle contraction headache is the most common headache afflicting mankind. Acute muscle contraction headache usually presents no problem in treatment and is a self-limited condition. Chronic muscle contraction headache presents a very difficult treatment problem. Patients are often dependent on drugs and treatment usually necessitates a multimodal approach. The pathophysiology of muscle contraction headache is unknown. There is much controversy as to whether muscle contraction is the primary cause of this condition or whether muscle contraction is merely another component of this syndrome. The extensive research now going on in the field of chronic pain should help clarify the issue.
Kunkel
R S
RS
Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44106.
D006261:Headache / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*