[Myofacial pain and tension-type headache]

The current epidemiological data indicate that at least 20% of the adult population suffer from frequent and returning headaches. The latest classification elaborated by the International Headache Society (IHS) distinguishes more than 80 different kinds of headaches in 14 groups (the second edition). The statistics show that about 30-78% of the cause of these disorders is the tension-type headache (NBG), which turns into chronic state (PNBG) of about 3%. The etiology and the likelihood mechanism of rising this kind of pain is being discussed for many years now and it awakes many controversies. At present, the research workers agree that the peripheral pain mechanism is responsible for rising NBG however at the base of PNBG lies the persistent activation of the peripheral nociceptors by intervention of which it comes to stimulation of central neurons. In confirmation of the muscular origin of NBG and the attempt of stating the new course to take with patients there are works of Simons and co-workers that describe myofascial pain. Myofascial pain is explained as a state of functional disorders which is bred by active trigger points (which breed pain after a fixed pattern) and latent points that being about disorders without pain effect. The treatment of myofascial pain is based on restoring the proper biochemistry and physiological length of the myofascials elements.