The Effect of Specific Strength-Training on Tension-Type Headache in Children 9-17 Years

Strength Capacity of Neck and Shoulder Muscles in Children and Adolescents 9-17 Years With Tension Type Headache and the Effect of Specific Strength-Training on Tension-Type Headache

This study aims at examining muscle strength capacity in neck and shoulder muscles in children and adolescents with and without tension-type headache, and furthermore examining the effect of a 10 week specific strength training programme for neck and shoulder muscles compared to a multi-disciplinary approach in 10 weeks.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Tension-Type Headache
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Specific Strength Training; Behavioral: Lifestyle Counseling

Detailed Description

Frequent and chronic tension type headache are the most frequent pain illnesses in children with a prevalence of 0.5-7,6%. Frequent or daily headache leads to constraints in the child's life in relation to school and social activities.

The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are not yet fully examined. In several studies in adults and in children it is found that the shoulder muscles are tense and tender, but it is not known whether this phenomenon is primary or secondary to tension-type headache. A decrease in muscle capacity is furthermore found in studies. We therefore aim at examining parameters for muscle function in order to compare the differences between children with and without headache, and at examining the effect of a 10 week progressive specific strength training programme on headache compared to an in time comparable multidisciplinary intervention based on lifestyle counseling.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 58
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Herlev
    • Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark, 2730
      • Birte Tornøe

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 9 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• primary tension-type headache with no more than one episode of migraine pr. month

Exclusion Criteria:

• post-trauma headache
• co-morbidity

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Specific Strength Training; 10 weeks of specific strength training of neck and shoulder muscles using elastic resistance.	Device: Specific Strength Training; 10 weeks of progressive specific strength training for neck and shoulder muscles.; Other Names: A
Active Comparator: Lifestyle Counseling; 10 weeks of counseling by nurse and physiotherapist in lifestyle changes.	Behavioral: Lifestyle Counseling; 10 weeks of counseling by nurse and physiotherapist in lifestyle changes.; Other Names: B

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Headache	Number of headache days/ 4 weeks. Mean VAS Score (pain)/4 weeks.	At baseline
Muscle Capacity	Neck and shoulder muscle function variables: MVC(maximal voluntary static capacity). RFD(rate of force development). FS (Force-steadiness).	At baseline
Headache	Number of headache days/ 4 weeks. Mean VAS Score (pain)/4 weeks.	After the 10 weeks intervention programme
Headache	Number of headache days/ 4 weeks. Mean VAS Score (pain)/4 weeks.	At 3 months follow up.
Muscle Capacity	Neck and shoulder muscle function variables: MVC(maximal voluntary static capacity). RFD(rate of force development). FS(Force-steadiness).	After the 10 weeks intervention programme
Muscle Capacity	Neck and shoulder muscle function variables: MVC(maximal voluntary static capacity). RFD(rate of force development). FS(Force-steadiness).	At 3 months follow up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
TTS	Total Tenderness Score ( palpation of percranial tenderness).	At baseline
Physical fitness	Submaximal ergometer bicycle test	At baseline
TTS	Total Tenderness Score ( palpation of pericranial tenderness).	After the 10 weeks intervention programme
TTS	Total Tenderness Score ( palpation of pericranial tenderness).	At 3 months follow up.
Physical fitness	Submaximal ergometer bicycle test	After the 10 weeks intervention programme
Physical fitness	Submaximal ergometer bicycle test	At 3 months follow up.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Herlev Hospital
• Collaborators: The University Hospitals Centre for Nursing and Care Research, Copenhagen; The Beckett-Fond; The Fond of Jørgen Holm and Elisa F. Hansen
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Birte Tornøe, PhD,MSc,PT, Children's Headache Clinic, Herlev University Hospital, 2730 Herlev, Copenhagen-DK

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 1, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): July 2, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 19, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2015
• Last Verified: March 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Tension-Type Headache; Strength Capacity; Neck and Shoulder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Headache Disorders, Primary; Headache Disorders; Headache; Tension-Type Headache
• Other Study ID Numbers: H-3-2009-081; 2009-41-3697 (Other Identifier: The Danish Data Council, Datatilsynet)