Effectiveness of suboccipital muscle inhibition combined with interferential current in patients with chronic tension-type headache: a randomised controlled clinical trial

R Pérez-Llanes; J D Ruiz-Cárdenas; A J Meroño-Gallut; M I Fernández-Calero; J Ríos-Díaz

doi:10.1016/j.nrl.2019.12.004

Effectiveness of suboccipital muscle inhibition combined with interferential current in patients with chronic tension-type headache: a randomised controlled clinical trial

Neurologia (Engl Ed). 2020 Apr 25:S0213-4853(20)30042-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2019.12.004. Online ahead of print.

[Article in English, Spanish]

Authors

R Pérez-Llanes¹, J D Ruiz-Cárdenas², A J Meroño-Gallut³, M I Fernández-Calero⁴, J Ríos-Díaz⁵

Affiliations

¹ Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
² ECOFISTEM Research group Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: jdruiz@ucam.edu.
³ CEO Health center Tú, Bienestar 360°, San Javier, Murcia, Spain.
⁴ INGRIS Research group, Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
⁵ Physical Therapy Research Group (INFIS), Fundación San Juan de Dios, Centro de Ciencias de la Salud San Rafael, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, España.

PMID: 32345452
DOI: 10.1016/j.nrl.2019.12.004

Abstract

Introduction: Manual therapy has been shown to reduce self-reported symptoms in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). However, simultaneous application of suboccipital muscle inhibition and interferential current has not previously been investigated. This study evaluates the effectiveness of combined treatment with suboccipital muscle inhibition and interferential current compared to standard treatment for pain, disability, and headache impact in patients with CTTH.

Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to receive either standard treatment (n = 13) or the experimental treatment (n = 12), consisting of 20 minutes of suboccipital muscle inhibition plus interferential current twice weekly for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was improvement in pain, and secondary outcomes included improvement in headache-related disability and reduction in headache impact, which were assessed at baseline and at 4 weeks by a blinded rater.

Results: Statistical analysis showed improvements in the experimental treatment group at 4 weeks for headache-related disability (Neck Disability Index: Hedges' g = 1.01, P = .001; and Headache Disability Inventory: Hedges' g = 0.48, P = .022) and headache impact (6-item Headache Impact Test: Hedges' g = 0.15, P = .037) but not for self-reported pain (numerical rating scale: Hedges' g = 1.13, P = .18).

Conclusions: Combined treatment with suboccipital muscle inhibition and interferential current in patients with CTTH did not significantly improve self-reported pain but did reduce disability and the impact of headache on daily life at 4 weeks. These improvements exceed the minimum clinically important difference, demonstrating the clinical relevance of our findings.

Keywords: Analgesia; Dolor de cuello; Electrical stimulation therapy; Headache disorders; Modalidades de fisioterapia; Neck pain; Physical therapy modalities; Terapia por estimulación eléctrica; Trastornos de cefalalgia.