title: Myofascial trigger points in children with tension-type headache: a new diagnostic and therapeutic option.
abstract: The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a trigger point-specific physiotherapy on headache frequency, intensity, and duration in children with episodic or chronic tension-type headache. Patients were recruited from the special headache outpatient clinic. A total of 9 girls (mean age 13.1 years; range, 5-15 years) with the diagnosis of tension-type headache participated in the pilot study from May to September 2006 and received trigger point-specific physiotherapy twice a week by a trained physiotherapist. After an average number of 6.5 therapeutic sessions, the headache frequency had been reduced by 67.7%, intensity by 74.3%, and duration by 77.3%. No side effects were noted during the treatment. These preliminary findings suggest a role for active trigger points in children with tension-type headache. Trigger point-specific physiotherapy seems to be an effective therapy in these children. Further prospective and controlled studies in a larger cohort are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Dr von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Celina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Stülpnagel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reilich
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Straube
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blaschek
authors.forename: Seung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller-Felber
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Henschel
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mansmann
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heinen