Diagnosis and treatment of headache in the ambulatory care setting: a review of classic presentations and new considerations in diagnosis and management.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the potential role of massage therapy in the treatment of headache disorders, alongside other complementary medical practices.
Results Summary
The abstract suggests that massage therapy may be a promising therapeutic option for headache disorders, but no specific results or data are provided regarding its effectiveness. Future research is anticipated to explore its role further.
Population
Headache disorder sufferers, with a focus on the aging population.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acupuncture | neutral | treatment of headache disorders | - | - | likely to be more research on the roles | #1 |
herbal and alternative remedies | neutral | treatment of headache disorders | - | - | likely to be more research on the roles | #2 |
massage therapy | neutral | treatment of headache disorders | - | - | likely to be more research on the roles | #3 |
mind-body techniques | neutral | treatment of headache disorders | - | - | likely to be more research on the roles | #4 |
neurostimulation | neutral | certain chronic, intractable headache conditions | - | - | may be useful | #5 |
Headaches represent the most common constellation of neurologic disorders and are a very common cause of morbidity, lost work time, and decreased quality of life among sufferers. In this article, the diagnostic features, workup, and treatment of common, nuanced, and difficult-to-diagnose headache conditions were addressed. The future will hold a number of changes, with respect to both the diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders. As the aging population continues to grow, primary care providers will need to become increasingly familiar with differentiating between benign primary and more serious secondary headache disorders and will need to be able to treat the headache disorders unique to the elderly. With respect to therapeutic options, the future for treatment of the various headache disorders is promising. With the rise in popularity of complementary medical practices, there is likely to be more research on the roles of acupuncture, herbal and alternative remedies, massage therapy, and mind-body techniques. Further, new research is suggesting that neurostimulation may be useful in certain chronic, intractable headache conditions. Finally, the pathophysiology of headache disorders is still poorly understood and there is great hope that better understanding of the underlying mechanics of headache might contribute to improved treatment modalities and better quality of life for patients.