Myofascial trigger points in children with tension-type headache: a new diagnostic and therapeutic option.
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.
von Stülpnagel
Celina
C
Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Dr von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany.
Reilich
Peter
P
Straube
Andreas
A
Schäfer
Jan
J
Blaschek
Astrid
A
Lee
Seung-Hee
SH
Müller-Felber
Wolfgang
W
Henschel
Volkmar
V
Mansmann
Ulrich
U
Heinen
Florian
F