Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Tension Headache in Post-Pubertal Females

The post-pubertal period significantly associated in increasing an adolescent female's risk of primary headache. Menses is a trigger for headache for 38% to 45% of women with tension-type headache (TTH), implying some link between TTH and sex hormones. Post pubertal modifications in certain brain areas, specifically the hypothalamus, were thought to act as major modulators of this risk.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a novel, noninvasive, and cost-effective approach in the field of physiotherapy. Because of its unique properties, low-power laser irradiation can alter cellular metabolism (bio-stimulating effect), reduce pain (analgesic effect), improve the wound healing procedure (regenerative/reparative effect), reduce edema, and accelerate the inflammation process (anti-inflammatory effect). LLLT has been employed as a treatment modality for a variety of conditions in medicine and dentistry including musculoskeletal pain syndrome, soft tissue injuries and ulcerations, dentin hypersensitivity, and attenuating the complications of surgical procedures.

Needle acupuncture is a treatment modality based on traditional Chinese medicine, in which small needles made from stainless steel are inserted into special points of the body to improve health or reduce pain in other parts of the body. Despite its proven effects in curing numerous diseases, acupuncture is associated with some disadvantages that reduce its acceptability and popularity among patients, such as aggressive nature of needle insertion and difficult application in some parts of the body such as points around the perineum or genitals. Recently, laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional acupuncture therapy to eliminate the need for needle insertion. In this way, low-intensity laser light is employed for stimulating the traditional acupuncture points, and so the procedure is simple, non-aggressive, painless, and inherently safer than needle acupuncture therapy.

Inclusion criteria

• Their age will be ranged from 15 to 18 years.
• Their body mass index (BMI) will be ranged from 20-25 Kg/m2.
• All participants will be diagnosed with tension type headache for which they haven't receive any treatment in the previous two weeks.
• Pain quality is typically pressing or tightening of mild to moderate intensity, bilateral in location and not worsening during routine physical activity.
• Absence of nausea and vomiting.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with other causes of headache.
• Patients who have pulsating headaches, neurological deficits or metabolic disorders.
• Contraindications to treatment (other simultaneous treatment, localized skin infection, fear).
• Previous head trauma.
• Previous physical therapy treatment for tension type headache during the last 6 months.