Efecto a largo plazo de un tratamiento de punción seca asociado a ejercicios terapéuticos en pacientes con cefaleas tensionales episódicas frecuentes : Protocolo de un ensayo clínico

Abstract

Introduction: Tension type headache is the most prevalent, especially in women, but the least studied. There isn’t enough scientific evidence on the most effective physiotherapeutic treatment. Evidence supports the efficacy of dry needling in conjunction with other treatment, and therapeutic exercise is definitively recommended. No previous studies have investigated the effects of the association of dry puncture with therapeutic exercise at long-term. Objectives: To assess changes in the quality of life of patients with episodic tension headaches after combined dry puncture and therapeutic exercise therapy using HIT-6; and to determine changes in intensity, duration and frequency of episodes along with drug use. Material and methods: Women diagnosed with frequent episodic tension type headaches will be recruited at the Miguel Servet Hospital in Zaragoza. They will be randomly distributed in an experimental group with a dry needling treatment or in a control group with simulated dry needling. Both groups will also receive 12 therapeutic exercise sessions. Quality of life will be evaluated through HIT-6, pain intensity through VAS and duration and frequency, drugs taken at 2 and 6 weeks, and 6 and 12 months. Hoped results: A decrease in the severity of the impact of headaches is expected by lowering the HIT-6 score as well as a decrease in the severity, frequency, intensity, duration of headaches, and the number of drugs taken per month. Conclusions: This protocol hopes to confirm the effectiveness of dry needling for episodic tension headaches, which is still under discussion. In addition, it is wanted to prove that its combination with therapeutic exercise could be a good association.