ReviewBrazilian journal of physical therapy
Physical therapy and migraine: musculoskeletal and balance dysfunctions and their relevance for clinical practice.
Review in Brazilian journal of physical therapy. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
34 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 85 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation in Vestibular Migraine: A Systematic Review.Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO · 2026Pooled it
- The effectiveness of physiotherapy for chronic headaches in patients with temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2025Pooled it
- What is the efficacy of aerobic exercise versus strength training in the treatment of migraine? A systematic review and network meta-analysis of clinical trials.The journal of headache and pain · 2022Pooled it
- Effects of kinesiotaping combined with physical therapy in patients with migraine-associated neck pain: a randomized controlled study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Trial
- Multistrategic Approaches in the Treatment of Acute Migraine During Pregnancy: The Effectiveness of Physiotherapy, Exercise, and Relaxation Techniques.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Trial
- Can upper cervical manual therapy affect the blink reflex in subjects with migraine and neck pain?The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2024Trial
- Chronic Migraine Resistance: A Case Report Highlights an Overlooked Factors in Family Medicine Clinics.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Non-pharmacological approaches for migraine management: a mini-review.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Article
- Integrating manual therapy into headache management: bridging the evidence gap.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025Review
- Exercise Patterns and Migraine Management: A Multifaceted Approach.American journal of lifestyle medicine · 2025Article
- Interventional neuromodulation techniques for cervicogenic headache.Journal of anesthesia and translational medicine · 2025Article
- Rising global burden of migraine among adolescents and young adults: a 30-year analysis (1990-2021).Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- The Temporal Associations of Neck Pain and Headache - Implications for the Diagnostic Approach to the Myofascial Involvement in Migraine.Journal of central nervous system disease · 2025Article
- What is the Status Quo of Patient-Centred Physiotherapy Management of People with Headache within a Biopsychosocial Model? - A Narrative Review.Current pain and headache reports · 2024Review
- Effectiveness of a Complementary Telehealth Education Program as a Preventive Treatment for Chronic Migraine: A Randomized Pilot Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Proprioceptive Training Improves Postural Stability and Reduces Pain in Cervicogenic Headache Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Reduction of neck pain severity in patients with medication-overuse headache.The journal of headache and pain · 2024Article
- Therapeutic Patient Education as Part of the Physiotherapy Management of Adults with Headache: A Scoping Review.Current pain and headache reports · 2024Article
- Is physiotherapy in migraines known to sufferers? A cross-sectional study.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMigraine is a primary headache with high levels of associated disability that can be related to a variety of symptoms and comorbidities. The role of physical therapy in the management of migraine is largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight and critically discuss the current literature and evidence for physical therapy interventions in individuals with migraines.
methodsA narrative review of the literature was performed.
resultsPhysical therapists assessing and treating patients with migraine should focus on two primary aspects: (1) musculoskeletal dysfunctions, and (2) vestibular symptoms/postural control impairment. Signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal and/or vestibular dysfunctions are prevalent among individuals with migraines and different disability levels can be observed depending on the presence of aura or increment of the migraine attacks.
conclusionA proper physical examination and interview of the patients will lead to a tailored treatment plan. The primary aim regarding musculoskeletal dysfunctions is to reduce pain and sensitization, and physical therapy interventions may include a combination of manual therapy, exercise therapy, and education. The aim regarding postural control impairment is to optimize function and reduce vestibular symptoms, and interventions should include balance exercises and vestibular rehabilitation. However, consistent evidence of benefits is still lacking due to the lack of and therefore need for tailored and pragmatic clinical trials with high methodological quality.
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.