Changes in Clinical Parameters in Patients with Tension-type Headache Following Massage Therapy: A Pilot Study

J Man Manip Ther. 2008; 16(2): 106–112.

PMCID: PMC2565109

Changes in Clinical Parameters in Patients with Tension-type Headache Following Massage Therapy: A Pilot Study

Albert Moraska, PhD and Clint Chandler, BS, LMT

Albert Moraska, School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO;

Contributor Information.

Address all correspondence and request for reprints to: Dr. Albert Moraska, Email: moraska/at/alum.rpi.edu

This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine approaches to treatment for tension-type headache are increasingly popular among patients, but evidence supporting its efficacy is limited. The objective of this study was to assess short term changes on primary and secondary headache pain measures in patients with tension-type headache (TTH) receiving a structured massage therapy program with a focus on myofascial trigger point therapy. Participants were enrolled in an open label trial using a baseline control with four 3-week phases: baseline, massage (two 3-week phases) and follow-up. Twice weekly, 45-minute massage sessions commenced following the baseline phase. A daily headache diary was maintained throughout the study in which participants recorded headache incidence, intensity, and duration. The Headache Disability Index was administered upon study entry and at 3-week intervals thereafter. 18 subjects were enrolled with 16 completing all headache diary, evaluation, and massage assignments. Study participants reported a median of 7.5 years with TTH. Headache frequency decreased from 4.7±0.7 episodes per week during baseline to 3.7±0.9 during treatment period 2 (P<0.001); reduction was also noted during the follow-up phase (3.2±1.0). Secondary measures of headache also decreased across the study phases with headache intensity decreasing by 30% (P<0.01) and headache duration from 4.0±1.3 to 2.8±0.5 hours (P<0.05). A corresponding improvement in Headache Disability Index was found with massage (P<0.001). This pilot study provides preliminary evidence for reduction in headache pain and disability with massage therapy that targets myofascial trigger points, suggesting the need for more rigorously controlled studies.

Keywords: Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Headache Disability Index, Manual Therapy, Myofasical Pain, Myofascial Trigger Points

Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent of the headache disorders, yet research into specific treatments is inadequate and lags other headache classifications such as migraine¹. The lack of suitable conventional medical options may explain the popularity of non-pharmaceutical therapies for TTH. A recent report noted that 40% of patients visiting a headache clinic use one or more complementary and alternative medicine modalities to reduce pain associated with chronic TTH². Manual therapies, including chiropractic medicine and massage therapy, receive much attention from the lay public as alternative treatments for TTH, which suggests an assumed patient benefit despite limited research evidence².

Self-massage of cranial musculature is regularly employed by 25% of TTH patients as a quick means to reduce pain, although the immediate benefit is reported to be of short duration³. In clinical trials, two studies utilizing massage as part of a physical therapy program for treating tension-type headache note a significant reduction in headache frequency⁴^,⁵. More directly related to massage, Puustjarvi et al report that women with chronic tension-type headache receiving massage experience a reduction in the number of days with pain, even at a six month follow-up⁶. More recently, a case series employing highly trained massage therapists reported reduction in headache frequency by 50% after as few as two 30-minute massage sessions⁷.

The 2004 International Classification of Headache Disorders published by the International Headache Society (IHS) indicates a muscular involvement for some forms of tension-type headache (Subclasses 2.2.1 and 2.3.1)⁸. In addition, physiological abnormalities, such as increased tenderness and greater incidence of myofascial trigger points in skeletal muscle are commonly reported for those with TTH⁹^,10^,11^,12^,13. Likewise, physical abnormalities associated with the musculature are also noted and include a forward head posture and reduced cervical muscle strength and endurance¹²^,14^,15^,16. The implication of a muscular involvement in TTH is further supported by the finding that botulinum toxin type A injected at anatomically defined sites improved headache intensity and headache free days in chronic TTH subjects¹⁷^,¹⁸. Therefore, it is not surprising that treatments to alleviate muscle tension are of interest as a means for reducing headache pain.

While manual therapies for the treatment of tension-type headache are frequently used by the general public², skepticism from the medical community exists due to lack of scientific support¹⁹. The objective of this study was to evaluate a specific massage therapy treatment directed at cervical and cranial musculature on primary and secondary measures of headache as well as a measure of disability associated with headache.

Methods

Study design

A cohort of subjects with TTH received 12 × 45-minute massage sessions over six weeks. Massage was directed toward soft tissues of the cervical and cranial regions with a focus on alleviating myofascial trigger point activity, connective tissue viscosity, and muscle hypertonicity. A 3-week baseline period preceded six weeks of massage and a 3-week follow-up period. Primary (frequency) and secondary (peak intensity, duration) measures of headache, as well as a measure of disability (Headache Disability Index) were monitored in accord with recently published guidelines²⁰. Subjects recorded headache measures in a daily headache diary; the Headache Disability Index (HDI) was administered at 3-week intervals. The Institutional Review Board at The Boulder College of Massage Therapy approved this study; all subjects signed informed consent prior to study enrollment.

Subjects

Selection criteria conformed to the 2004 IHS guidelines for episodic or chronic TTH: experiencing regular headache pain for at least the prior 6 months, each headache bout lasting at least 4 hours; 21–65 years of age; and 1 or fewer migraine headaches per month⁸. Subjects taking anti-psychotic or anti-depressant medications were excluded from the study. Subjects were recruited from fliers placed in local medical physician offices and advertisements in a local newspaper. Enrollment criteria were verified by interview, review of headache diary and confirmatory diagnosis by the subjects' medical physician. A total of 18 subjects met selection criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Two participants were subsequently removed from the study due to either involvement in a motor vehicle accident or an insufficiently maintained headache diary.

Massage therapists

Subjects were randomly assigned to one of 6 massage therapists for the duration of the treatment phase. The continuity of therapist was selected because clients typically receive treatment from the same practitioner and familiarity with the practitioner reduces associated anxiety. Massage therapists employed in this study had an average of 6 years of professional massage experience, 5 had taught massage techniques at a local massage school, and all therapists underwent at least 6 hours of training specific to the protocol prior to study onset. To isolate the effect of the massage procedure from therapist-subject camaraderie, therapists and subjects were directed to minimize conversation and to not discuss headache history; communication between subject and therapist was limited to current treatment (i.e. depth of massage pressure, presence of referred pain, and overall patient comfort). The massage therapists were not informed regarding participant progression with headache status throughout the study.

Massage protocol

Two 45-minute massage sessions were conducted each week over a 6-week period. Each massage session was separated by at least 48 hours. The first 15 minutes of each massage session involved palmar gliding strokes to warm-up the tissues of the back, shoulders, chest, and neck. Over the next 15 minutes, up to 6 active myofascial trigger points were palpated and treated using myofascial trigger point release techniques as previously published⁷^,21^,22. Skeletal muscles addressed included the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital, and splenius capitis. The final 15 minutes of each massage session consisted of 5 minutes of post-isometric relaxation directed at the right and left lateral cervical flexion, 5 minutes of circular or cross fiber friction on the masseter, temporalis, and occipital-frontalis muscles, and 5 minutes of gentle effleurage and petrissage strokes to the neck and shoulders²⁴.

Headache diary

Each subject maintained a daily headache diary, which was completed immediately before retiring for sleep²⁵. Subjects recorded the presence of a tension-type headache each day. If a headache occurred, the duration was recorded in hours and minutes, and the peak headache intensity was recorded on a 100mm visual analogue scale where 0 indicated no headache pain and 100 indicated maximal headache pain²⁶. Diaries were collected at 3-week intervals.

Headache disability index

To quantify the impact TTH has on daily living the HDI was administered. The HDI consists of 25 items each requiring a “yes” (4 points) “sometimes” (2 points) or “no” (0 points) response based on items derived empirically from case history responses from subjects with headache²⁷. This index has been reported in the headache literature as a criterion standard measure for disability in patients with headache²⁰. A total score change of at least 29 points is necessary for effects to be considered clinically significant²⁷. Emotional and functional subscales are contained within the inventory. The HDI has good internal consistency (0.89), robust long-term test-re-test reliability (0.83), and good construct validity²⁷. The HDI was administered 5 times at 3-week intervals to each participant, including twice during the baseline phase, after 3 and 6 weeks of massage therapy and at a 3-week follow-up. To avoid a confounding immediate effect of massage, the HDI was administered either prior to or on a day separate from massage treatment.

Statistics

The study was divided into four 3-week phases: baseline, massage (two 3-week phases), and follow-up phase. Headache frequency was reported as the weekly average over each study phase. The average peak headache intensity, duration of headache, and the HDI were presented for each phase. Statistical analysis was conducted using StatView for Windows (SAS Institute) and statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. Unless otherwise noted, data were presented as the mean ± 95% confidence interval (CI) and were assessed by repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). Post hoc analysis was conducted using paired t-tests with Bonferroni correction; due to the pilot nature of the study only comparisons to baseline values were conducted, thus three comparisons were performed for each analysis and adjustments required a p value of <0.017 for significance.

Results

Demographic data

The mean (±SD) subject age was 43.8±9.3 (range 28–56) and subjects had been experiencing TTH for a median of 7.5 years (range 0.5–40). Twelve females and 4 males completed the study. In the six months prior to study enrollment, 4 subjects reported having received no massage and 12 reported at least 1 massage from a professional massage therapist.

Headache frequency

Subjects reported an average of 4.7±0.7 days per week with headache during the 3-week baseline period (Figure (Figure1).1). A significant reduction in headache incidence was detected across time (F(3,15) = 8.95, p <0.001) with both the second massage phase (3.7±0.9 headaches/week) and the 3-week follow-up (3.2±1.0 headaches/week) periods reporting significantly fewer headaches compared to baseline (p<0.01). The highest 1-week headache incidence was recorded during the first week of massage treatment (5.0) and the lowest single week average occurred during both the last week of massage and second week of the follow-up phase with an average of 3.1 episodes.

Figure 1

Headache incidence was recorded in a daily diary. The mean number of days that headache was experienced per week during the respective study phase is presented (±95% CI). Headache incidence decreased over the course of the study (P<0.001). (more ...)

Headache intensity

The average peak pain intensity for each headache bout was recorded on a visual analog scale (0–100 mm) and is displayed in Figure Figure2.2. Headache pain during the baseline period was of moderate intensity (46.9±6.9 mm) but decreased by 30% over the course of the study (F(3,45) = 6.07, p=0.001) reaching a low of 32.8±9.4 mm during the follow-up phase. Post hoc analysis indicated a significant reduction in peak headache pain intensity from baseline during the second massage phase 2 (p=0.002) as well as the follow-up (p=0.004).

Figure 2

Headache intensity. The peak inten- sity of each headache bout was recorded in a headache diary on a visual analogue scale (VAS) with a range from 0-100 mm. Headache intensity in each respective phase was averaged and is presented (±95% CI). Headache (more ...)

Headache duration

The duration of a headache event for each study phase is presented in Figure Figure3.3. The mean headache duration during the baseline phase was 4.0±1.3 hours, which decreased to 3.4±1.0 hours during the second massage phase and to 2.8±0.5 hours for the follow-up phase (F(3, 45) = 3.17, p<0.05).

Figure 3

Headache Duration. The duration of each headache was recorded in a headache diary. The average duration of headache during each respective phase is presented (±95% CI). A significant change across time was noted (P<0.05).

Headache disability index

Subjects were administered the HDI questionnaire at the beginning and end of the baseline phase and at 3-week intervals for the duration of the study (Figure (Figure4).4). There was no statistical difference in subject scores between the two baseline tests (p=0.94) thus each was subsequently pooled. A significant effect across time was noted (F(3,45) = 14.1, p<0.001) with the baseline scores averaging 44.2 and decreased to 25.1 at the end of massage treatment. On average, 11 to 22 questions on the HDI evoked a response with subjects reporting improvement on between 5 to 10 of the 25 questions. Both the HDI functional and emotional subscales improved significantly over the course of the study, however, significant improvement in the functional subscale was detected on the test administered after three weeks of massage (P<0.01) whereas the emotional component did not reach statistical significance until after the sixth week of massage (P<0.01).

Figure 4

Headache Disability Index. Mean scores for the Total as well as Functional and Emotional subscales of the HDI are presented (±95% CI). The test was administered five times at three-week intervals, including twice during Baseline. No statistical (more ...)

Secondary analysis

Thirteen subjects met IHS criteria for chronic tension-type headache and 3 met the criteria for episodic tension-type headache⁸. Descriptive statistics for headache parameters (Table (Table1)1) and the HDI (Table (Table2)2) are presented for qualitative comparison of these subgroups. To minimize the risk of Type I or II errors we chose not to perform statistical analysis on these populations; statistical analysis is provided only for the complete set of 16 subjects.

TABLE 1

Descriptive statistics for headache parameters of chronic (n=13) and episodic (n=3) tension-type headache subjects.

TABLE 2

Descriptive statistics for the Headache Disability Index of chronic (n=13) and episodic (n=3) tension-type headache subjects.

Discussion

Primary and secondary measures of headache were reduced from baseline for TTH subjects receiving a six-week course of 12 massage sessions that focused on myofascial trigger point therapy and was administered by highly trained therapists. Headache-free days increased by an average of 1 day per week during the second massage phase and 1.5 days per week during the follow-up phase. Furthermore, a 30% decrease in the peak intensity and a 1.2 hour decrease (to 2.8 hours) in the duration of each successive headache incidence was observed. Significant group effects were not apparent until the second three week period of massage therapy. Concomitant with a reduction in headache measures was a decrease in headache-specific disability as measured by the HDI. Importantly, short-term changes associated with massage persisted beyond the massage treatment period as both primary and secondary headache measures during the follow-up period were significantly lower than baseline and were comparable to the second massage period.

Pericranial muscle tenderness is greater in TTH than control or migraineurs and provides an association between peripheral tissues and headache pain²⁸^,²⁹. Muscle tenderness remains apparent even during a headache-free period²⁸^,³⁰. More recently, Fernandez-de-las-Penas et al have drawn attention to myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in skeletal muscle as sites of interest in TTH³¹^,³². An active MTrP is a tightly contracted region within a muscle that elicits pain locally (point tenderness) as well as at characteristic distant sites (referred pain), the latter of which can mimic the pain syndrome of the patient³³. Therefore, the MTrP is of particular interest due to its association with local muscle tenderness and its ability to refer pain that mimics the patient complaint, thus providing a peripheral site(s) directly linked with the headache. A focus in this massage study was on reducing active MTrP activity in cervical and cranial muscles, which has been shown to be of higher presence in the upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles of TTH than control subjects¹¹^,³⁴. The value of treating MTrPs of the muscles addressed in the present study is underscored by a recent review article, which concludes that MTrPs are a causative factor for tension-type headache and play a role in the progression from episodic to chronic headache forms³⁵.

Multiple methods aimed at reducing MTrP activity have been previously investigated, with mechanical pressure from manual (massage) techniques commonly cited³⁶^,37^,38^,39. Specific to massage at the MTrP is a study conducted by Gam et al⁴⁰ who report a significant decrease in the number of MTrPs in the neck and shoulders after a massage and exercise program; the addition of ultrasound to the treatment regimen did not improve results. Furthermore, manual compression applied to myofascial trigger points increases pain threshold and tolerance at the MTrP²³^,⁴¹. The majority of the specific massage treatment used in this study was directed at reducing active MTrPs in musculature that refer pain to the head region. Although physiological measures of the MTrP were not taken during this study, the therapists reported that MTrPs became increasingly difficult to locate and required greater pressure to elicit referred pain phenomenon following repeated massage visits, factors that suggest a reduction in its metabolic activity.

The mechanism by which a MTrP elicits pain has not been clearly identified. Shah et al found an elevation in chemicals associated with nociception such as bradykinin, substance P, and reduced pH at an active MTrP, but not a latent MTrP or healthy muscle tissue⁴². The presence of bradykinin in the MTrP may be an important component in the referred pain phenomenon as injection of a cocktail containing bradykinin into the tibialis anterior resulted in referred pain sensation⁴³^,⁴⁴. In this regard, massage may mechanically force the muscle fiber sarcomeres at the MTrP nodule apart, thus reducing ischemia and allowing blood flow to the region, which may flush pain-inducing chemicals and allow for tissue recovery to occur³⁶. Persistent nociceptive stimulation of the central nervous system from the periphery has been argued as a means of progression from episodic to chronic TTH¹¹^,⁴⁵. Therefore, both peripheral and central mechanisms may be involved with the etiology of TTH⁴⁶, which may explain some variability in the effectiveness of massage. It may be necessary to independently address both peripheral and central mechanisms to alleviate persistent tension-type headache pain.

Verbal reports from the participants strongly support a positive effect from massage on headache pain. However, the reduction, but not complete abrogation, of headache pain by massage prompts inquiry into whether a longer duration massage (e.g. 60 minute), additional massage sessions, or a less standardized massage protocol that is tailored to each specific patient would result in a greater effect. Continued improvement in headache measures across the study timeframe suggests that the effectiveness of massage was not exhausted within six weeks, thus additional massage treatments may be beneficial. It is also important to recognize that behavioral changes by the patient such as postural or nutritional adjustments, stress reduction, or breathing mechanics may be necessary to prevent reactivation of a MTrP that can perpetuate headache. Although 12 participants in this study had received professional massage in the 6 months prior to study enrollment, it is unlikely that this experience had a direct effect on treatment outcome. These massages were not headache treatment oriented and all massage was prohibited during baseline data collection. Furthermore, we did not observe significant group effects until after 3 weeks of massage treatment (6 massages), which would argue against prior treatments impacting the study findings.

It is interesting to note that headache instances increased in the week immediately following massage onset, but also continued to decrease for a period following massage cessation. Isometric muscle contraction associated with the myofascial trigger point release technique can result in over-stimulation of a MTrP and perpetuate referred pain and headache phenomenon³³. The initial week of massage denotes a period where the subject becomes acquainted with the therapist and myofascial trigger point therapy techniques; subjects may be unaccustomed to pressure and appropriate sensation for optimizing this type of treatment. The first week following the massage phases may allow a recovery of the MTrPs without additional stimulation from massage, thus allowing residual pain to subside.

While statistically significant, reductions in total as well as the functional and emotional subscales for the Headache Disability Index were found. This finding should be interpreted with caution since a decrease of 19.1 units was noted in this study, yet a 29 point change has been reported as necessary for clinical change²⁷. The relatively large change necessary for clinical significance limits the robustness of the test as subjects initially reporting moderate disability scores must virtually eliminate associated disability and those with scores below this value are limited by a basement effect²⁰.

The comparison to a baseline standard and not a placebo control group limits the ability to assess causality of the treatment. However, selection of participants experiencing TTH for a median of 7.5 years and a 3-week baseline period argues against day-to-day fluctuations causing the observed effects. While a 4-week baseline period is optimal to avoid any fluctuations in headache due to menstrual cycles²⁰, two-week periods have been argued as satisfactory for TTH research studies⁴⁷. Potentially confounding treatments such as an exercise program, physical therapy, or chiropractic adjustments that are often co-administered with massage were not permitted in this study, thus isolating the massage treatment. Our study also employed massage therapists with extensive experience in the field and a specifically designed protocol was followed during each session. This degree of attention to the massage aspect of a treatment regimen for TTH has been insufficiently addressed in previous studies. It is hoped that this initial foray provides impetus for additional research into massage for chronic pain conditions such as TTH.

Conclusion

In this pilot study, a massage therapy treatment program, with an emphasis on reducing myofascial trigger point activity, was administered to patients meeting IHS criteria for episodic or chronic TTH. During the second three week phase of massage, reductions in primary and secondary headache measures were noted relative to a baseline-monitoring period. Importantly, the frequency of headache events decreased, but it is also notable that successive headaches experienced by study participants were of reduced intensity and duration and these reductions persisted at least 3 weeks following massage therapy. Collectively, the observed improvement in clinical headache parameters provides an intriguing look into the therapeutic effect of massage and is encouraging for placebo-controlled research in complementary and alternative treatments for TTH.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Nathan Butryn, Maria Hassett, Marjorie Johnson, Rob Killam, and Lynn St. Denis for their role as massage therapists in this study.

Footnotes

The National Headache Foundation, Chicago, Illinois provided financial support for this study.

Contributor Information

Albert Moraska, School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO.

Clint Chandler, Boulder College of Massage Therapy, Boulder, CO.

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