title: Muscle trigger point therapy in tension-type headache.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that active trigger points (TrPs) in neck and shoulder muscles contribute to tension-type headache. Active TrPs within the suboccipital, upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, temporalis, superior oblique and lateral rectus muscles have been associated with chronic and episodic tension-type headache forms. It seems that the pain profile of this headache may be provoked by referred pain from active TrPs in the posterior cervical, head and shoulder muscles. In fact, the presence of active TrPs has been related to a higher degree of sensitization in tension-type headache. Different therapeutic approaches are proposed for proper TrP management. Preliminary evidence indicates that inactivation of TrPs may be effective for the management of tension-type headache, particularly in a subgroup of patients who may respond positively to this approach. Different treatment approaches targeted to TrP inactivation are discussed in the current paper, focusing on tension-type headache. New studies are needed to further delineate the relationship between muscle TrP inactivation and tension-type headache.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso-Blanco
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: de-la-Llave-Rincón
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-las-Peñas
mesh_terms: D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D009334:Neck Muscles; D053591:Referred Pain / Q000628:therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012782:Shoulder; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D061028:Trigger Points