Efficiency of myofascial release in patients with tension-type headaches: integrative review

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Headaches are the most common neurological symptom and the most frequent medical complaint, with tension-type pain being one of the most reported forms, being considered a public health problem. Among the manual therapies indicated for the treatment of tension type headaches (TTH) is myofascial release (MRL), which consists of releasing muscle and fascia tension, through techniques that deactivate trigger points (TP). Thus, the objective of this integrative review is to determine the effectiveness of physical therapy using MRL in the treatment of TP-induced TTH. CONTENTS:The guiding question of the study was: "What is the effect of manual therapy using myofascial release as a treatment in patients with tension-type headaches"? Searches were performed in LILACS and Pubmed/Medline databases until August 2021. Sixteen studies published between 2003 and 2021 were included in this integrative review, including case reports and clinical trials, presenting a total of 481 patients. CONCLUSION: It was possible to conclude that the MRL technique showed positive results as a treatment for TTH through the reduction of pain, intensity and frequency.