Influence of Osteopathic Intervention on Cervical Muscles in Tension Headaches in Women

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Tension Headaches
• Interventions: Other: Stretching technique; Other: Placebo Technique; Other: Inhibition of the suboccipital

• Registration Number: NCT06475248
• Lead Sponsor: Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto

Brief Summary

This study aims to understand whether there is any relationship between the intervention on the trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and suboccipital muscles in patients with chronic tension headaches.

Detailed Description

It is expected to find an improvement in the symptoms and frequency of tension headaches.

In this study, the investigators intend to see the effects of trapezius and sternocleidomastoid "stretching techniques", and "suboccipital inhibition" on tension headaches. To collect data, volunteers were asked to fill out the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6).

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2024-06
• Study First Submitted: 2024-06-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-06-20
• Study First Posted: 2024-06-26
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-06-26
• Last Update Posted: 2024-06-28
• Study Start: 2024-09
• Primary Completion: 2024-12
• Study Completion: 2024-12-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 43

Inclusion Criteria

• Tension headaches;
• Being over eighteen years of age;

Exclusion Criteria

• Loss of mobility of cervical;
• Cervical and shoulder pain during episodes;
• Other headaches (migraine, cervicogenic headache...)
• Other interventions and/or pharmacological treatment a few days before the intervention;
• Epilepsy;
• Trauma.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental Group	Stretching technique	After each volunteer completes the Hit-6 scale, one of the researchers will perform the "trapezius and sternocleidomastoid stretching techniques", and "suboccipital inhibition". The techniques performed will only be done once, lasted 6 minutes. This procedure will be repeated for two more sessions. One month after the first evaluation, the volunteers filled out the Hit-6 scale again.
Control Group	Placebo Technique	Each volunteer selected in this group will complete a scale, in this case Hit-6, to collect data and evaluate the evolution. Then a placebo technique will be used, which consists of imitating the contacts of the techniques without compressing or pulling the tissue, lasted 6 minutes. This procedure will be repeated for two more sessions. One month after the first evaluation, the volunteers filled out the Hit-6 scale again.
Experimental Group	Inhibition of the suboccipital	After each volunteer completes the Hit-6 scale, one of the researchers will perform the "trapezius and sternocleidomastoid stretching techniques", and "suboccipital inhibition". The techniques performed will only be done once, lasted 6 minutes. This procedure will be repeated for two more sessions. One month after the first evaluation, the volunteers filled out the Hit-6 scale again.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in the intensity and frequency of pain after the three treatment sessions;	One month after the first intervention	The scale Hit-6 will be the instrument used to evaluate the level the intensity and frequency of tension headache. This instrument consists of six questions about the characteristics of headaches, with each question presenting five choices. The answers range from never to always. This data will be collected immediately before the first investigation and one month after the first evaluation, through the volunteers filling out the scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Escola Superior da Saúde do Porto; 🇵🇹 Porto, Portugal