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Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in the Treatment of Headache
Katrina Nayak1, Victoria Phoumthipphavong2, Christopher Oakley2
1Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 301 Mason Lord Dr. Ste 2100, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA. Knayak2@jh.edu.
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|November 14, 2025
Summary
Non-invasive neuromodulation devices show growing evidence for safe and effective headache treatment in adults and children. These options offer alternatives for those avoiding pharmacologic therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Headache disorders represent a significant global health burden.
- Pharmacological treatments carry risks and side effects, necessitating alternative therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence for non-invasive neuromodulation devices in treating adult and pediatric headache disorders.
- To highlight the safety and efficacy of these emerging non-pharmacological options.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent literature on non-invasive neuromodulation for headaches.
- Analysis of safety and efficacy data for various device modalities.
Main Results:
- Several non-invasive neuromodulation devices demonstrate safety and efficacy for migraine and trigeminal autonomic cephalgias.
- Examples include external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS), and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS).
Conclusions:
- Non-invasive neuromodulation offers a safe and effective non-pharmacological approach to headache management.
- These devices are particularly beneficial for patients seeking to avoid or mitigate side effects of traditional medications.
