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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02264340

Effects of Exercise and Relaxation Techniques on Tension Headache Pain Parameters of University Students

Tension headache is a common disabling disease and a worldwide public health problem. This research tries to demonstrate the efficacy of physical therapy, based on cervical training and postural self-correction instructions, which aims to increase the positive results obtained from traditional relaxation techniques (Schultz Autogenic Training). University students are selected, because headaches are very common in this sector of the population. The design is a non-pharmacological randomized controlled trial, with blinded evaluation of the response variables. The investigators compare two independent samples. One of them receives an only treatment (Autogenic Training) and the other group receives a combined program (Autogenic Training + specific cervical exercises and postural correction). Pain parameters (frequency, intensity and duration) and drug consumption are measured before treatment, and then, at 4 weeks and 3 months, to value the results.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • College students of Complutense University of Madrid, diagnosed with frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headache (according to the criteria of International Headache Society (IHS)).

Exclusion criteria

  • Cases with other headaches
  • Students with excessive state anxiety and / or trait anxiety (≥ 85 percentile, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory )
  • Students that had received treatment for tension headache, based on physical exercise or relaxation techniques, in the last 6 months.

Treatment and study plan

Relaxation technique Autogenic Training

Behavioral

Autogenic Training

Combined treatment Autogenic Training + Cervical exercises and postural correction

Behavioral

Autogenic Training + Cervical exercises and postural correction

Primary outcomes

  1. Frequency

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Days with headache, during 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Intensity

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Pain intensity (VAS: 1-10)

  2. Duration

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Hours a day with headache

  3. Medication

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Days in which person takes drugs for pain, during 4 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Other

Registry information

Official study title

EFFECTS OF EXERCISE AND RELAXATION TECHNIQUES ON TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE PAIN PARAMETERS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS; A RANDOMIZED AND CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL

Acronym: ERTTHU

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2011
First posted
Oct 15, 2014
Registry last updated
Oct 15, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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