Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Tension Headache in Post-Pubertal Females

ConditionTension Headache
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age15-18
SponsorCairo University

About this trial

This study will be carried out to evaluate the effect of laser acupuncture on tension headache in post-pubertal females.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Their age will be ranged from 15 to 18 years.

Their body mass index (BMI) will be ranged from 20-25 Kg/m2.

All participants will be diagnosed with tension type headache for which they haven't receive any treatment in the previous two weeks.

Pain quality is typically pressing or tightening of mild to moderate intensity, bilateral in location and not worsening during routine physical activity.

Disqualifiers

Patients with other causes of headache.

Patients who have pulsating headaches, neurological deficits or metabolic disorders.

Contraindications to treatment (other simultaneous treatment, localized skin infection, fear).

Previous head trauma.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Low energy laser acupuncture

    Other intervention

    The experimental group will receive low-energy laser acupuncture therapy. The laser will deliver 1.3 joules (approximately 13 joules per square centimeter) per point at 100 percent output in continuous mode, applied with vertical contact and slight pressure for 40 seconds per point. Four acupuncture points will be treated bilaterally according to published protocols: Gallbladder 14 and Gallbladder 20 as local head points, and Large Intestine 4 and Lung 7 as distal points on the hand and forearm. Both therapist and patient will wear protective goggles during treatment for safety.

  • Myofascial release technique

    Other intervention

    All participant in both groups will receive myofascial release technique for 6 weeks. Soft tissue and trigger point release techniques will be applied on the muscles/fascia reproducing the patient's symptoms (the occipitalis, suboccipitalis, splenius, sternocleidomastoid, and trapezius). Various myofascial techniques will employed such as effleurage, deep friction massage, ischemic compression and muscle energy techniques.

Treatment groups

60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Low energy laser acupuncture + Myofascial release techniqueExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: Myofascial release techniqueActive comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Assessment of pain intensity

It will be assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst possible pain).

Time frame
6 weeks

Secondary outcomes

1

Assessment of trigger point threshold

It will be assessed using pressure pain algometer to detect and confirm the site and sensitivity of trigger points by determining the pressure pain threshold (PPT) using a pressure gauge probe.

Time frame
6 weeks
2

Assessment of headache severity

It will be will be assessed using the Headache Disability Index (HDI), a 25-item self-report questionnaire that measures the impact of tension-type headache on daily life. It comprises 12 functional items and 13 emotional items, yielding a total score from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater disability. This tool allows evaluation of treatment effects on both functional performance and emotional well-being.

Time frame
6 weeks
3

Cervical Flexion Range of Motion

Cervical flexion will be assessed using a Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device. Participants will be instructed to bend the head forward maximally while maintaining a seated upright posture. The angle achieved, measured in degrees, will be recorded to quantify sagittal plane flexion mobility of the cervical spine.

Time frame
6 weeks
4

Cervical Extension Range of Motion:

Cervical extension will be measured using the CROM device. Participants will be asked to extend the head backward to the maximum comfortable range. The degree of extension will be recorded to evaluate posterior sagittal plane cervical mobility.

Time frame
6 weeks

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Cairo University

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: