Myofascial Release for the Treatment of Tension-Type, Cervicogenic Headache or Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of myofascial release (MFR) techniques on the intensity of headache pain and associated disability in patients with tension-type headache (TTH), cervicogenic headache (CGH), or migraine.
DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS: Eight databases were searched on September 15, 2023, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang Database. The risk of bias was evaluated utilizing the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool.
RESULTS: Pooled results showed that MFR intervention significantly reduces pain intensity [SMD = -2.01, 95% CI (-2.98, -1.03), I2 = 90%, P < 0.001] and improves disability [SMD = -1.3, 95% CI (-1.82, -0.79), I2 = 74%, P < 0.001]. Subgroup analysis based on the type of headache revealed significant reductions in pain intensity for CGH [SMD = -2.01, 95% CI (-2.73, -1.29), I2 = 63%, P < 0.001], TTH [SMD = -0.86, 95% CI (-1.52, -0.20), I2 = 50%, P=0.01] and migraine [SMD = -6.52, 95% CI (-8.15, -4.89), P < 0.001] and in disability for CGH [SMD = -1.45, 95% CI (-2.07, -0.83), I2 = 0%, P < 0.001]; TTH [SMD = -0.98, 95% CI (-1.32, -0.65), I2 = 0%, P < 0.001] but not migraine [SMD = -2.44, 95% CI (-6.04, 1.16), I2 = 97%, P=0.18].
CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis results indicate that MFR intervention can significantly alleviate pain and disability in TTH and CGH. For migraine, however, the results were inconsistent, and there was only moderate quality evidence of disability…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Calcium Ions in the Physiology and Pathology of the Central Nervous System
- AI-powered in silico twins: redefining precision medicine through simulation, personalization, and predictive healthcare
- In silico functional, structural and pathogenicity analysis of missense single nucleotide polymorphisms in human MCM6 gene
- In Silico drug repurposing pipeline using deep learning and structure based approaches in epilepsy
- Targeting serotonin receptors with phytochemicals – an in-silico study
- In silico exploration of anti-prostate cancer compounds from differential expressed genes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.