An investigation of the effects of connective tissue massage in women with migraine: A controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction: To investigate the effects of connective tissue massage (CTM) on pain characteristics, accompanying symptoms, medication usage, disability, sleep quality, psychological status, and quality of life in women with migraine.

Method: The study was designed as a prospective controlled clinical trial. Women were allocated into the CTM (CTM + education (Ed) program, n = 8) and control groups (only Ed program, n = 8). One session of Ed and 12 sessions of CTM were performed for 4 weeks. They filled out a headache diary, including pain characteristics, accompanying symptoms, and medication usage, for the pre-, during-, and after-treatment periods. Disability, sleep quality, psychological status, quality of life, and disability were evaluated with the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Headache Impact Test-6, respectively.

Results: The CTM group showed a significant change in pain, accompanying symptoms (except vomiting), medication usage, Headache Impact Test-6, and Disability with Migraine Disability Assessment Scale scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Only the CTM group showed a significant change over time in all parameters of the headache diary except vomiting (p < 0.05). Only Headache Impact Test-6 and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale scores improved in the CTM group (p < 0.05).

Discussions: CTM was superior for reducing pain characteristics, accompanying symptoms, medication usage, disability, and improving quality of life.

Conclusion: CTM may be considered as a non-pharmacological and complementary therapy for migraine.

Keywords: Anxiety; Connective tissue massage; Headache; Migraine; Pain.