Objective: To date, the minimum clinical differences (MCDs) in the pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of the upper trapezius and temporalis muscles have not yet been established in participants with tension-type headache (TTH). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the MCDs of the PPTs of the upper trapezius and temporalis in participants with TTH and those without TTH.
Methods: The sample comprised 120 participants with TTH (n = 60; mean [standard deviation] years = 38.30 [10.05]) and without TTH (n = 60; 34 [8.20]). The participants were recruited from an outpatient clinic in Spain from 2014 to 2016. The PPTs of the most hyperalgesic trigger points of the upper trapezius and temporalis were assessed.
Results: There were statistically significant differences, mean (standard deviation) kg/cm2, for the right upper trapezius PPT (P < .001; 1.52 [0.35] vs 2.37 [0.49]), the left upper trapezius PPT (P < .001; 1.53 [0.36] vs 2.29 [0.49]), the right temporalis PPT (P = .008; 1.56 [0.31] vs 1.72 [0.33]), and the left temporalis PPT (P = .001; 1.57 [0.27] vs 1.74 [0.30]) between participants with and without TTH, respectively.
Conclusions: The PPT MCDs for the right and left upper trapezius and the right and left temporalis were 0.85, 0.76, 0.16, and 0.17 kg/cm2, respectively, for the clinical management of trigger points in participants with TTH.
Author keywords: Tension-Type Headache; Trigger Point; Pain, Referred
Author affiliations: European University of Madrid. Physiotherapy Department.Faculty of Health, Exercise and Sport (Spain / Madrid); Fiom Care Center Spain / Madrid); Universidad Complutense de Madrid. School of Nursing and Podiatry (Spain / Madrid); Universidade da Coruña. Research, Health and Podiatry Unit (Spain / La Coruña); Universidad de León. Nursing and Physical Therapy Department. Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED) (Spain / León)
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