Referred pain areas of active myofascial trigger points in head, neck, and shoulder muscles, in chronic tension type headache

Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas, César; Ge, Hong You; Alonso‐Blanco, Cristina; González-Iglesias, Javier; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.06.008

Cited by 56 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The upper trapezius, sub-occipital muscles, and the sternocleidomastoids were selected for TPR treatment due to the high frequency of MTrPs in these muscles that refer pain to the head and reproduce the subject headache pain complaint. [16, 21, 40]…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myofascial Trigger Point-focused Head and Neck Massage for Recurrent Tension-type Headache

Moraska

Stenerson

Butryn³

et al. 2015

The Clinical Journal of Pain

109

125

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are focal disruptions in skeletal muscle that can refer pain to the head and reproduce the pain patterns of tension-type headache (TTH). The present study applied massage focused on MTrPs of subjects with TTH in a placebo-controlled, clinical trial to assess efficacy on reducing headache pain. Methods Fifty-six subjects with TTH were randomized to receive 12 massage or placebo (detuned ultrasound) sessions over six weeks, or to wait-list. Trigger point release (TPR) massage focused on MTrPs in cervical musculature. Headache pain (frequency, intensity and duration) was recorded in a daily headache diary. Additional outcome measures included self-report of perceived clinical change in headache pain and pressure-pain threshold (PPT) at MTrPs in the upper trapezius and sub-occipital muscles. Results From diary recordings, group differences across time were detected in headache frequency (p=0.026), but not for intensity or duration. Post hoc analysis indicated headache frequency decreased from baseline for both massage (p<0.0003) and placebo (p=0.013), but no difference was detected between massage and placebo. Subject report of perceived clinical change was a greater reduction in headache pain for massage than placebo or wait-list groups (p=0.002). PPT improved in all muscles tested for massage only (all p's<0.002). Discussion Two findings from this study are apparent: 1) MTrPs are important components in the treatment of TTH, and 2) TTH, like other chronic conditions, is responsive to placebo. Clinical trials on headache that do not include a placebo group are at risk for overestimating the specific contribution from the active intervention.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myofascial Trigger Point-focused Head and Neck Massage for Recurrent Tension-type Headache

Moraska

Stenerson

Butryn³

et al. 2015

The Clinical Journal of Pain

109

125

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…13,16 In a subsequent study led by the same Spanish researcher, a mean number of seven active MTrPs per CTTH patient were found when examining six head and neck muscles bilaterally. 21 In the current study, which examined five head and neck muscles bilaterally, a mean number of 4.9 active MTrPs per CTTH patient was found. Of note is that a regional pain problem can be due to a single trigger point, although it is more commonly associated with multiple trigger points.…”

Section: Conflict Of Interest -No Conflict Of Interest To Declarementioning

confidence: 50%

“…8 In our study, the temporalis and suboccipital muscles were most likely to have active MTrPs (87.6% and 80.4% of patients respectively). The suboccipital muscles also exhibited the highest number of active MTrPs in one of the Spanish studies, 21 unlike the Korean study, where the upper trapezius was more often involved (60.9% of patients) as compared with the suboccipital (26.1%) and temporalis (8.7%) muscles. 16 Simons et al have noted that the trapezius is probably the muscle that is most often affected by MTrPs.…”

Section: Conflict Of Interest -No Conflict Of Interest To Declarementioning

confidence: 67%

Active myofascial trigger points in head and neck muscles of patients with chronic tension-type headache in two primary health care units in Tshwane

Joseph

Hitchcock

Meyer

et al. 2016

South African Family Practice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background:The management of patients presenting with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) can be challenging for primary health care practitioners. As with most chronic pain disorders, a multimodal management approach is frequently required. It has been postulated that myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and its hallmark myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) found in specific muscle tissues may play a role in the chronic pain experienced by patients with CTTH. Little is known about the prevalence of MTrPs in patients with CTTH, in primary health care settings on the African continent. This study therefore aimed to investigate the prevalence of active MTrP's in specific head and neck muscles/muscle groups in patients with CTTH. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study was done in two primary health care facilities situated in Tshwane, South Africa. The sample included 97 adult patients with CTTH. Five head and neck muscles/muscle groups were examined bilaterally for active MTrPs. Outcome measures were the prevalence and distribution of active MTrPs in these patients. Results: Active MTrPs were found in 95.9% of the patients, the majority (74.2%) having four or more active MTrPs. The temporalis muscles and suboccipital muscle group exhibited the highest number of active MTrPs (prevalence 87.6% and 80.4% respectively). Conclusion: Our study suggests a strong association between MPS and CTTH in patients, presenting in the primary health care setting. This indicates the importance of a musculoskeletal assessment of neck and pericranial muscles in patients with CTTH. This can assist in determining the most appropriate treatment strategy in these patients.

show abstract

“…In addition, many patients with migraine and tension-type headaches can find trigger points in the muscles of the head and neck region 19) . It is recognized that trigger points are not simply a co-occurrence in head pain but may be activating factors for certain types of headaches 20) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Miniscalpel Acupuncture on Cervicogenic Headache: A report of three cases^※

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[Abstract]Objectives : Thisstudyexaminedtheeffectsofminiscalpelacupuncture(MA)inthreepatients withcervicogenicheadache. Methods : PatientsweretreatedwithMA,whichwasperformedonceperweekforthreeweeks.Aheadachescore,visualanaloguescale(VAS),andneckdisabilityindex(NDI)wereusedfor theevaluationoftreatmenteffects. Results : Incases1,2,and3,theheadachescoredecreasedfrom4to1,3to0,and3to1,respectively.TheVASscoredecreasedfrom8.5to1.9,5to0.4,and5.3to2incases1,2,and 3,respectively.TheNDIscoredecreasedfrom28to4,50to4,and38to16incases1,2,and 3,respectively.

show abstract

Referred pain areas of active myofascial trigger points in head, neck, and shoulder muscles, in chronic tension type headache

Cited by 56 publications

References 19 publications

Myofascial Trigger Point-focused Head and Neck Massage for Recurrent Tension-type Headache

Myofascial Trigger Point-focused Head and Neck Massage for Recurrent Tension-type Headache

Active myofascial trigger points in head and neck muscles of patients with chronic tension-type headache in two primary health care units in Tshwane

The Effects of Miniscalpel Acupuncture on Cervicogenic Headache: A report of three cases^※

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Referred pain areas of active myofascial trigger points in head, neck, and shoulder muscles, in chronic tension type headache

Cited by 56 publications

References 19 publications

Myofascial Trigger Point-focused Head and Neck Massage for Recurrent Tension-type Headache

Myofascial Trigger Point-focused Head and Neck Massage for Recurrent Tension-type Headache

Active myofascial trigger points in head and neck muscles of patients with chronic tension-type headache in two primary health care units in Tshwane

The Effects of Miniscalpel Acupuncture on Cervicogenic Headache: A report of three cases※

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

The Effects of Miniscalpel Acupuncture on Cervicogenic Headache: A report of three cases^※