Acupuncture Treatment for Chronic Post-Traumatic Headache in Individuals with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of once-weekly (low dose) versus twice-weekly (high dose) acupuncture treatments on chronic post-traumatic headache (CPTH) in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Results Summary
Acupuncture significantly reduced the number of headache days and headache pain intensity in individuals with CPTH, though there were no differences between dose groups. No significant changes were observed in acute medication use or sleep quality, and quality-of-life improvements were noted but should be interpreted cautiously.
Population
Individuals with chronic post-traumatic headache (CPTH) following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Effective Dosage
5 or 10 acupuncture treatments (once or twice weekly) over 5 weeks.
Duration
5 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acupuncture | decrease | number of headache days | individuals with CPTH | - | significantly reduced | #1 |
acupuncture | decrease | headache pain intensity | individuals with CPTH | - | significantly reduced | #2 |
acupuncture | no change | acute medication use | individuals with CPTH | - | no significant changes | #3 |
acupuncture | no change | sleep quality | individuals with CPTH | - | no significant changes | #4 |
acupuncture | increase | quality of life | individuals with CPTH | - | some improvements identified | #5 |
acupuncture | neutral | safety | people with CPTH after mTBI | - | shown to be safe and well-tolerated | #6 |
five acupuncture treatments using a standardized protocol | decrease | headache relief | this population | - | shows promise in providing headache relief | #7 |
Chronic post-traumatic headache (CPTH) after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been reported in up to 60% of patients and can be extremely debilitating. While pharmacological treatments are typically used for CPTH, they frequently cause side effects and have limited effectiveness, leading individuals with CPTH to be unsatisfied with current treatment options and to seek nonpharmacological options. Acupuncture has been identified as a potential treatment option; however, the evidence in this population remains limited. The overall goal of this study was to examine the effect of a once weekly (e.g., low dose) versus twice weekly (e.g., high dose) of acupuncture treatment on CPTH in individuals with mTBI. Thirty-eight individuals were randomized to receive either 5 or 10 acupuncture treatments using a standard protocol over 5 weeks. The protocol consisted of 14 points using traditional acupuncture and 4 points using electroacupuncture. Headache outcomes, safety, treatment adherence, sleep quality, and quality of life (QOL) were assessed. The results showed that while there were no differences between dose groups for any of the outcomes assessed, acupuncture significantly reduced the number of headache days and headache pain intensity in individuals with CPTH. There were no significant changes in acute medication use or sleep quality. While there were some QOL improvements identified, these results should be interpreted with caution. Overall, acupuncture was shown to be safe and well-tolerated in people with CPTH after mTBI, and five acupuncture treatments using a standardized protocol shows promise in providing headache relief for this population.