SynthesisJournal of oral & facial pain and headache2025
The efficacy of physiotherapy approaches in chronic tension-type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of oral & facial pain and headache, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Adapting Tension-Type Headache to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Taxonomy: A Conceptual Proposal.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Clinical Practice Patterns in the Physiotherapy Management of Tension-Type Headache Among Spanish Physiotherapists.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
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.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough pharmacologic therapies are considered the first choice for the treatment of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), physiotherapy and rehabilitation approaches are also used in the management of patients with CTTH. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of physiotherapy approaches in CTTH through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
methodsThe following electronic databases were searched, PubMed and Web of Science databases. Common primary outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were changes in the intensity and duration of headaches, headache frequency, disability and headache impact. The methodologic quality (completeness of reporting and risk of bias) of trial reports included in systematic reviews was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale ratings. We also performed data synthesis and quantitative analysis of the eligible data.
resultsNine RCTs were included in the review. Seven studies related to intensity of headache (IH), three on headache frequency (HF), three on headache duration (HD), and two on headache impact were eligible for quantitative analysis. Analysis of the data showed that neck-shoulder strength exercises, electroacupuncture, and approaches targeting muscle relaxation improved the IH (-1.17 (-1.86, -0.49)
conclusionsNeck-shoulder strength exercises and muscle relaxation are effective in reducing the intensity, duration, and frequency of headaches and electroacupuncture causes significant improvement in the duration and intensity of headaches in patients with CTTH. THE PROSPERO REGISTRATION: PROSPERO number is CRD42023457085.
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