The Impact of Soft Tissue Techniques in the Management of Migraine Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Individuals with migraine often present with postural faults and muscle tension that are associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). These trigger points may be a contributory factor to the development of migraine headaches. There are many treatments aimed at eliminating MTrPs, such as soft tissue techniques, laser therapy, and needling therapies. Thus, we performed a randomized controlled trial study to investigate the efficacy of soft tissue techniques in the management of migraine headache.

This study was conducted among individuals with migraine headache in Shiraz in 2018. Forty participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: the soft tissue techniques (treatment) group and the placebo control group. Participants in the treatment group were treated over 6 sessions in 2 weeks (combined MTrP therapy and stretching). Headache parameters, drug consumption, score on the Headache Disability Index, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were measured before and after the intervention and after a 1-month follow-up period. Data were analyzed with 2 × 3 repeated-measures analyses of variance to investigate the differences in variables between the 2 groups.

Compared with baseline and the control group, the treatment group showed a significant reduction in headache parameters (P < .001), drug consumption (P < .001), and Headache Disability Index score (P < .001) immediately after the intervention and after a 1-month follow-up period (all Ps < .001). PPT levels increased in the treatment group in comparison with the control group (P < .001).

The soft tissue techniques were helpful for improving certain aspects of migraine, such as headache parameters, drug consumption, functional disability, and PPT levels of cervical muscles.