Trial reportThe Clinical journal of pain2015
Myofascial trigger point-focused head and neck massage for recurrent tension-type headache: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Trial report in The Clinical journal of pain, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 40 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Treatment of Cervical Syndrome With Myofascial Therapies
Comparing the Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Ischemic Compression Technique on Muscle Thickness and Health Related Quality of Life in Trigger Point Tension Type Headache
Association Between Tension-Type Headache and Masseter Muscle Thickness in Women With Fibromyalgia
Who cites it
40 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 109 citations in OpenAlex.
- Physical Therapy in Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Manual Therapy and Quality of Life in People with Headache: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Current pain and headache reports · 2019Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Trial
- Short-term effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization compared to algometry pressure release in tension-type headache: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2023Trial
- The Effect of Hamstring Relaxation Program on Headache, Pressure Pain Threshold, and Range of Motion in Patients with Tension Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Short-Term Effects of Kinesio Taping in the Treatment of Latent and Active Upper Trapezius Trigger Points: two Prospective, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trials.Scientific reports · 2019Trial
- Model structure for protocol adherence utilizing a manualized therapeutic massage intervention.Journal of complementary & integrative medicine · 2018Trial
- Responsiveness of Myofascial Trigger Points to Single and Multiple Trigger Point Release Massages: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation · 2017Trial
- Evaluation of the relationship between tension-type headache and masseter muscle thickness in women with fibromyalgia syndrome: a cross-sectional ultrasonographic study.Irish journal of medical science · 2026Article
- The Effectiveness of Traction Massage Combined with Herbal Compress for Relieving Menstrual Cramps: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork · 2025Article
- Effects of Self-Assisted Manual Therapy Combined with a High-Intensity Walking Program on Musculoskeletal Pain, Functionality, and Posture in Older Adults: A Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Ultrasound-Guided Stellate Ganglion Block with Cervicotemporal Myofascial Trigger Point Acupuncture for Insomnia with Comorbid Anxiety and Depression: A Retrospective Observational Study.Nature and science of sleep · 2025Article
- Effect of selective manual therapy techniques in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized control trial.Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences · 2024Article
- Trigger Point Therapy Techniques as an Effective Unconventional Method of Treating Tension Headaches: A Systematic Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Review
- Effects of Dry Needling on Active Myofascial Trigger Points and Pain Intensity in Tension-Type Headache: A Randomized Controlled Study.Journal of personalized medicine · 2024Article
- Effect of myofascial release and muscle energy technique on patients with chronic neck pain: a scoping review.Physical activity and nutrition · 2024Article
- The Indonesian consumer perspective on the massage industry: A conjoint analysis approach.PloS one · 2024Article
- Does Tension Headache Have a Central or Peripheral Origin? Current State of Affairs.Current pain and headache reports · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveMyofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are focal disruptions in the skeletal muscle that can refer pain to the head and reproduce the pain patterns of tension-type HA (TTH). The present study applied massage focused on MTrPs of patients with TTH in a placebo-controlled, clinical trial to assess efficacy on reducing headache (HA) pain.
methodsFifty-six patients with TTH were randomized to receive 12 massage or placebo (detuned ultrasound) sessions over 6 weeks, or to wait-list. Trigger point release massage focused on MTrPs in cervical musculature. HA pain (frequency, intensity, and duration) was recorded in a daily HA diary. Additional outcome measures included self-report of perceived clinical change in HA pain and pressure-pain threshold at MTrPs in the upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles.
resultsFrom diary recordings, group differences across time were detected in HA frequency (P=0.026), but not for intensity or duration. Post hoc analysis indicated that HA frequency decreased from baseline for both massage (P<0.0003) and placebo (P=0.013), but no difference was detected between massage and placebo. Patient report of perceived clinical change was greater reduction in HA pain for massage than placebo or wait-list groups (P=0.002). Pressure-pain threshold 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 HA that do not include a placebo group are at risk for overestimating the specific contribution from the active intervention.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.