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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Jun;31(3):174-183.
doi: 10.1080/10669817.2022.2082637. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Short-term effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization compared to algometry pressure release in tension-type headache: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Sherif Moustafa Ramadan  1 , Hussein Awad El Gharieb  2 , Awatef Mohamed Labib  1 , Eman Ahmed Embaby  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Short-term effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization compared to algometry pressure release in tension-type headache: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Sherif Moustafa Ramadan et al. J Man Manip Ther. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Purposes: To compare the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and pressure algometry with sham ultrasound (control group) on the clinical measures of headache, pressure pain threshold (PPT) of upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles and cervical alignment in patients with tension type headache (TTH).

Methods: Seventy-two patients with TTH of both genders were randomly allocated to 3 experimental groups: a) the IASTM group (n=24), b) pressure algometry group (n=24), and c) sham ultrasound control group (n=24). Headache frequency and disability, pressure pain threshold of upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles, cervical lordosis angle (CA) and anterior head translation (AHT) were measured four weeks before and after intervention. Moreover, headache frequency was followed up for two more weeks after intervention.

Results: Statistically significant improvements (P <0.05; effect size ranges 1.1-1.9) were observed in all outcome measures following IASTM compared to the other two intervention methods. In the IASTM group, the headache frequency decreased from 15 to 2 days/month. Also, headache disability decreased from 19 to 10. Further, CA increased from 17.5° to 31.4° and AHT decreased from 24.1 to 15.5 mm. The pressure algometry group showed significantly lower headache frequency at the follow-up (P < 0.01) than the sham ultrasound control group. However, Similar findings in the other evaluated outcomes were found between the pressure algometry and sham ultrasound control groups (P ˃ 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate the effectiveness of IASTM in improving headache symptoms and cervical alignment in patients with TTH.

Keywords: Cervical alignment; Tension-type headache; instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization; manual therapy; myofascial trigger points.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Application of IASTM on the left upper trapezius using Edge Tool.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Application of IASTM on the left suboccipital muscle using Edge Tool.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Measurement of Cervical Lordosis Angle (CA) using Surgimap software.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Measurement of Anterior head translation (AHT) using Surgimap software.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Participants, flow chart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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