Acupressure for Tension Headache
MANUAL THERAPY Malissa Martin, EdD, ATC, CSCS, Report Editor Acupressure for Tension Headache Sandra Hendrich, PT, DPT; Leamor Kahanov, EdD, LAT, ATC; and Lindsey E. Eberman, PhD, LAT, ATC • Indiana State University Tension headache (TH) or “stress head- milder severity and longer duration and is ache” is the most common type of headache generally described as a feeling of tightness occurring among adults, occurring twice as or a band-like pressure felt around the back often in women as in men, and a leading of the neck or the head or in the forehead health complaint.1,2,3 Exercise-related head- region.1-4 The pain associated with TH is usu- aches are one of the ally dull in nature and generally occurs on most common medical both sides of the head. Tight muscles in the Key PPointsoints problems affecting ath- neck, shoulders, upper back, and temporal Addressing three key acupressure points letes, with up to 50% regions, often accompanied by stress, may (temporal, base of the skull, first dorsal reporting headache as be an indication that myofacial trigger points 1-4 interossi) may reduce or eliminate tension a regular consequence (MTPs) are a cause of TH. headache symptoms. of athletic participa- Treatment may include psychological tion.4 A majority (72%) counseling, manual therapy, physiologic Accupressure points (i.e., Joining of the of these athletes report intervention, and pharmaceutical treat- Valleys, LI4; Gates of Consciousness, that neither trauma or ment.1,3 An association between MTPs and GB20; and the temporal region) may be concussion is the cause, TH has been identified, with treatment ame- specific to tension headaches but may also and therefore, such liorating or eliminating symptoms.2,3 MTPs be hypersensitive muscles delineated by a headaches can be cat- in the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid taut band of tissues.
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