There are several treatment methods that are used by physiotherapists to treat migraine and tension type-headache (TTH). The effects of these methods have been evaluated in previous studies. However, there are few studies evaluating headache patients own perception of the treatment. The purpose of this study was both to examine the patient’s perception of the physiotherapy headache treatment and to examine if the treatment had effect on their quality of life. The study had a qualitative, descriptive design. Five patients with migraine and/or TTH who had their physiotherapy treatment at the Department of Physiotherapy, Division of neuroscience, Uppsala university hospital were interviewed about their perceptions. An interviewguide was composed and the interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed according to a qualitative content analysis by the authors. The informants perceived the collaboration between physiotherapist and patient as important. The informants stated that they preferred to perform some of the activities individually instead of in a group. The general quality of life among the informants increased from the start of the treatment to after the treatment. The informants perceived that they had lowered their own level of stress and demands and that they had become more accepting towards themselves and their headache. There would be of further interest to make a larger study to examine the interaction between physiotherapist and patient in the treatment session, and to examine the treatment result in individual versus group treatment.

Bakgrund och syfte: Huvudvärk av spänningstyp (HST) är vanligt förekommande. Det finns oklarheter avseende både dess patofysiologi och olika behandlingars effekt. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva och utvärdera effekten av en individuellt anpassad beteendemedicinsk behandling i fysioterapi för patienter med HST. Metod: En single-case studie med A1-A2-B-A3-design av tre patienter med HST genomfördes. Utfallsvariabler var huvudvärksfrekvens (antal dagar med huvudvärk), huvudvärksindex (medelintensitet), konsumtion av smärtlindrande medicin, tro på sin förmåga avseende kontroll av huvudvärken, samt upplevd påverkan av huvudvärken på funktion i vardagsaktiviteter och på glädje i aktiviteter med familj och vänner. Resultat: Tro på sin förmåga avseende kontroll av huvudvärken ökade markant för 2 av 3 patienter. Huvudvärksfrekvens och huvudvärksindex minskade markant för en av patienterna. En av patienterna svarade först inte alls på behandlingen, men blev mycket bättre inför den sista uppföljningen avseende huvudvärksindex och funktion och glädje i aktiviteter. Diskussion och konklusion: Ett beteendemedicinskt förhållningssätt i behandling som grundar sig på funktionell beteendeanalys kan vara ett sätt att som fysioterapeut hantera patienter med HST. HST är en vid diagnosgrupp och det verkar då logiskt att behandlingen bör anpassas individuellt för att få bästa effekt. / Background and aim: Tension-type headache (TTH) is common. There are uncertainties regarding both the pathophysiology and the effect of treatments. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the effect of an individually tailored behavioural medicine treatment in physiotherapy, based on a functional behavioural analysis. Method: A single-case study with A1-A2-B-A3-design of three patients with TTH was performed. Outcome variables were headache frequency (days with headache), headache index (mean intensity), consumption of analgesics, headache management self-efficacy (HMSE), disability and feelings of loss of happiness in activities with family and friends. Results: HMSE increased markedly for 2 of 3 patients. Headache frequency and headache index decreased for one of the patients. One of the tree patients did not first respond to treatment but was much better before the last follow-up regarding headache index, disability and loss of happiness. Discussion and conclusion: A behavioural medicine treatment in physiotherapy based on a functional behavioural analysis can be a way for physiotherapists to handle patients with TTH. Since the diagnosis TTH is heterogenic it seems logical that the treatment should be individually tailored.