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Diagnosis and treatment of headache in the ambulatory care setting: a review of classic presentations and new considerations in diagnosis and management.

The Medical clinics of North America
May 1, 2014
Natalie Hale et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultAmbulatory CareHeadacheHeadache DisordersHumansPain Management
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy50/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year0.5
Relative Citation Ratio0.34
NIH Percentile18.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score1.26
Normalized Score0.52
Related Supplements
Diagnosis and treatment of headache in the ambulatory care s... | Panacea Index