Myofascial Trigger Points in Cluster Headache Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Calandre Elena P, Hidalgo Javier, Garcia-Leiva Juan M, Rico-Villademoros Fernando, Delgado-Rodriguez Antonia
Primary Institution: Institute of Neuroscience, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Hypothesis
Can active trigger points provoking cluster-type referred pain be found in cluster headache patients, and are anaesthetic injections effective in their treatment?
Conclusion
Active myofascial trigger points were found in all cluster headache patients studied, and their inactivation through injections significantly improved headache management.
Supporting Evidence
- All patients had active trigger points that reproduced their typical cluster headache pain.
- 83.3% of episodic patients and 85.7% of chronic patients experienced successful outcomes from injections.
- Injections combined with prophylactic drug therapy improved conditions in 7 out of 8 chronic patients.
Takeaway
Doctors looked at people with cluster headaches to see if sore spots in their muscles could be causing pain, and found that treating these spots helped reduce headaches.
Methodology
The study involved examining patients for active trigger points and administering anaesthetic injections to assess their effectiveness in treating cluster headaches.
Potential Biases
The patients were not selected from a broader sample, which may introduce selection bias.
Limitations
The study was uncontrolled and the sample may not represent the average cluster headache patient.
Participant Demographics
All participants were male, with a mix of episodic and chronic cluster headache diagnoses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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