Tension headaches: what form of therapy is most effective?

Abstract

In order to assess the effectiveness of verbal relaxation instructions and EMG relaxation training on the relief of tension headaches, 18 medically documented tension-headache sufferers were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Jacobson-Wolpe autogenic-relaxation training, (2) EMG relaxation training, or (3) EMG relaxation training combined with Jacobson-Wolpe autogenic instructions. The two EMG-assisted groups showed significantly better results, compared to the verbal group, in terms of reduction of headache activity and the rate at which reduction took place. Thus, EMG-assisted relaxation procedures seem the treatment method of choice for relief of tension headaches.