Effectiveness of a physical therapy regimen in the treatment of tension-type headache.

Twenty patients with diagnosis of muscle contraction headache were treated for pain relief in a physical therapy clinic once a week for six visits. The previous 3-week period of no treatment served as a control period during which patients recorded by diary their headache frequency, duration, and intensity using a numeric pain scale. Activity level, as measured by the Sickness Impact Profile, and verbal reports of headache frequency, duration, and intensity were recorded at four points during a 1-year period. Measurements were recorded at precontrol, pretreatment, posttreatment, and 12-month follow-up. Treatment included education for posture at home and work place, isotonic home exercise, massage, and stretching to the cervical spine muscles. Results indicated frequency of headaches and Sickness Impact Profile scores were significantly improved (P < 0.001) over the course of treatment. These benefits were maintained after 12 months.