Loading clinical trials...

HVLAT, Electric DN, Exercise Vs. Mobilization, STM, Exercise, TENS for Tension Type Headaches | Clinical Trials | Clareo Health

RECRUITINGNA

HVLAT, Electric DN, Exercise Vs. Mobilization, STM, Exercise, TENS for Tension Type Headaches

Thrust Manipulation, Electric Dry Needling and Exercise Vs. Non-thrust Mobilization, Soft-Tissue Mobilization, Exercise and TENS for Tension Type Headache Sufferers

NCT04609709•Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

The purpose of this research is to compare two different approaches for treating patients with tension-type headaches: thrust Manipulation, electric dry Needling and exercise Vs. non-thrust mobilization, soft-tissue mobilization, exercise and TENS. Physical therapists commonly use all of these techniques to treat tension-type headaches. This study is attempting to find out if one treatment strategy is more effective than the other.

Detailed Description

Patient will tension-type headaches will be randomized to receive 2 sessions per week for 6 weeks (up to 8-12 sessions total) of either: 1. thrust Manipulation, electric dry Needling and exercise or 2. non-thrust mobilization, soft-tissue mobilization, exercise and TENS

Eligibility

Age

18 - 65 years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria

•Patient must be between 18 and 65 years old and report ALL YES under one of the Tension-type Headaches described below:
•2.2 Frequent Episodic Tension-type Headaches: Frequent episodes of headache, typically bilateral, pressing or tightening in quality and of mild to moderate intensity, lasting minutes to days. The pain does not worsen with routine physical activity and is not associated with nausea, but photophobia or phonophobia may be present.
•1. At least 10 episodes of headache occurring on 1- 14 days per month on average for \>3 months (12 and \<180 days per year)
•2. Headache lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days
•3. Patient has headaches that have at least two of the following four characteristics:
•1. Bilateral location
•2. Pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) quality
•3. Mild or moderate intensity
•4. Not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs
•4. Both of the following are true:
+19 more criteria

Exclusion Criteria

•1. Patient presents with other primary and/or secondary headache
•2. Patient presents with Medication Overuse Headache defined as:
•1. Headache occurring on 15 days per month in a patient with a pre-existing headache disorder
•2. Regular overuse for \>3 months of one of more drug that can be taken for acute and/or symptomatic treatment of headache
•3. Not better accounted for by another headache diagnosis
•3. History of head/neck trauma (to include whiplash)
•4. History of Cervical Stenosis
•5. Presence of any of the following atherosclerotic risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, peripheral vascular disease, smoking, hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia
•6. Red flags noted in the patient's Neck Medical Screening Questionnaire (i.e. tumors, fracture, metabolic diseases, RA, osteoporosis, history of prolonged steroid use, etc.
•7. Bilateral upper extremity symptoms
+12 more criteria

Locations (1)

Maller and Swoverland Orthopedic PT

Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

Key Dates

Start Date

October 31, 2020

Primary Completion Date

May 1, 2026

Completion Date

May 1, 2026

Last Updated

May 18, 2025

Enrollment

110

ESTIMATED participants

Conditions

Tension-Type Headache

Interventions

Thrust Manipulation, Electric Dry Needling and Exercise

OTHER

Non-thrust Mobilization, Soft-Tissue Mobilization, Exercise and TENS

OTHER

Contacts

James Dunning, DPT PhD

CONTACT

801-707-9056 jamesdunning@hotmail.com

Raymond Butts, DPT PhD

CONTACT

803-422-3954 fellowship@spinalmanipulation.org

China HeadAche DIsorders RegiStry

NCT05334927

Headache Disorders, PrimaryMigraine+4 more

View study

RECRUITINGNA

Pilot Study of the Osteo-Fluidic-Sensitive (OFS) in Tension-type Headache.

NCT05229224

Tension-Type Headache Episodic

View study

RECRUITING

Data Source & Attribution

This clinical trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

ClinicalTrials.gov last update: May 18, 2025Data synced to Clareo: March 29, 2026

Modifications: This data has been reformatted for display purposes. Eligibility criteria have been parsed into inclusion/exclusion sections. Location data has been geocoded to enable distance-based search. For the authoritative and most current information, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

Neither the United States Government nor Clareo Health make any warranties regarding the data. Check ClinicalTrials.gov frequently for updates.

View ClinicalTrials.gov Terms and Conditions

HVLAT, Electric DN, Exercise Vs. Mobilization, STM, Exercise, TENS for Tension Type Headaches

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

China HeadAche DIsorders RegiStry

Pilot Study of the Osteo-Fluidic-Sensitive (OFS) in Tension-type Headache.

China Headache and Vertigo Registry Study

International Headache Registry Study

Botulinum Toxin A in Frequent and Chronic Tension-type Headache

German Translation and Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Headache Screening Questionnaire (HSQ) Followed by a Test-retest Reliability Study.