HOW WE IMPROVED OUR MASSAGE REDUCES THE FREQUENCY OF HEADACHES
According to a recent study, massage significantly reduces the number of headaches experienced by people with chronic tension headaches and shortens the duration of headaches.
"Massage Therapy and the Frequency of Chronic Tension Headaches," by Christopher Quinn, Clint Chandler, and Albert Morasca, Ph.D., of the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Colorado. was organized by
Four people who had experienced two to three headaches a week for the past six years or more participated in the eight-week study. During the first four weeks, the number of headaches was recorded. During the last four weeks, participants received two 30-minute massages per week.
A standardized massage protocol was used, consisting of six steps that fit into a 30-minute period: preparatory tissue warm-up (three minutes), myofascial release (five minutes), axial cervical traction (two minutes), trigger-point therapy. . (15 minutes), easy stretching (five minutes) and closing session (three to five minutes).
Trigger-point therapy, which forms a large part of the routine, involves scanning palpation of the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital, splenius capitis, levator scapula, and temporalis muscles.
"When present, active trigger points were treated with pincers or flat palpation with sufficient pressure to elicit referred pain or autonomic referral events," the study authors explained.
Pressure is maintained until referral pain ceases or for a maximum of two minutes, then vascular flushing is gradually produced. In a typical session, six active trigger points are treated, and the process is repeated three to five times on each point.
Before going to bed each night, participants filled out a headache diary form, recording the number of headaches, the severity of the most severe headache, and the longest headache duration.
Each subject experienced a reduction in headaches within the first week of massage therapy, and the average number of headaches per week decreased significantly from 6.8 to 2 over the course of four weeks of massage.
Although headache duration decreased in four subjects, this decrease was not statistically significant and there was no significant change in headache severity.
According to a recent study, massage significantly reduces the number of headaches experienced by people with chronic tension headaches and shortens the duration of headaches."Massage Therapy and the Frequency of Chronic Tension Headaches," by Christopher Quinn, Clint Chandler, and Albert Morasca, Ph.D., of the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Colorado.was organized by Four people who had experienced two to three headaches a week for the past six years or more participated in the eight-week study. During the first four weeks, the number of headaches was recorded. During the last four weeks, participants received two 30-minute massages per week. A standardized massage protocol was used, consisting of six steps that fit into a 30-minute period: preparatory tissue warm-up , myofascial release , axial cervical traction , trigger-point therapy.., easy stretching and closing session. Trigger-point therapy, which forms a large part of the routine, involves scanning palpation of the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital, splenius capitis, levator scapula, and temporalis muscles."When present, active trigger points were treated with pincers or flat palpation with sufficient pressure to elicit referred pain or autonomic referral events," the study authors explained. Pressure is maintained until referral pain ceases or for a maximum of two minutes, then vascular flushing is gradually produced. In a typical session, six active trigger points are treated, and the process is repeated three to five times on each point. Before going to bed each night, participants filled out a headache diary form, recording the number of headaches, the severity of the most severe headache, and the longest headache duration. Each subject experienced a reduction in headaches within the first week of massage therapy, and the average number of headaches per week decreased significantly from 6. 8 to 2 over the course of four weeks of massage.
According to a recent study, massage significantly reduces the number of headaches experienced by people with chronic tension headaches and shortens the duration of headaches."Massage Therapy and the Frequency of Chronic Tension Headaches," by Christopher Quinn, Clint Chandler, and Albert Morasca, Ph.D., of the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Colorado.was organized by Four people who had experienced two to three headaches a week for the past six years or more participated in the eight-week study. Before going to bed each night, participants filled out a headache diary form, recording the number of headaches, the severity of the most severe headache, and the longest headache duration. Each subject experienced a reduction in headaches within the first week of massage therapy, and the average number of headaches per week decreased significantly from 6.
