Muscle-contraction headaches in multiple-pain patients: treatment under worsening baseline conditions

A total of 55 muscle-contraction headache patients were divided into four groups which received frontalis EMG biofeedback, relaxation training, combined biofeedback-relaxation training, or no-treatment control. All patients were compensation patients undergoing assessment and brought to a high level of activity for the first time since going into chronicity. In all cases, onset or aggravation of the headaches coincided with the compensation-related injury. All treatment modalities led to significant but similar levels of improvement in headaches, while the control group worsened.