Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Headaches are one of the most common clinical conditions in medicine,
and 80% of these are tension-type headaches (TTH). TTH has a greater socioeconomic
impact than any other type of headache due to its prevalence. Within the TTH category,
episodic TTH are more prevalent than chronic TTH. The mainstay in the treatment of
TTH are simple analgesics and NSAIDs. Unless contraindicated, NSAIDs are often the
most effective treatment for ETTH. However patients suffering with TTH tend to relate
their headaches to increased muscle stiffness in the neck and shoulders and thus the
non-pharmacological treatment of ETTH could be directed at the associated
musculoskeletal components of ETTH. It is therefore proposed that the Kinesio Taping®
Method may have an effect in the treatment of the muscular component of ETTH.
Method: This study was a prospective randomised clinical trial with two intervention
groups (n=16) aimed at determining the relative effectiveness of a NSAID and the
Kinesio Taping® Method in the treatment of ETTHs. The patients were treated at 5
consultations over a 3 week period. Feedback was obtained using the: NRS – 101, the
CMCC Neck Disability Index and a Headache Diary.
Results: The Headache Diary showed a reduction in the presence and number, mean
duration and pain intensity of ETTH in both groups. These treatment effects were
sustained after the cessation of treatment with the exception of mean pain intensity in
the Kinesio Taping® Method group. The mean NRS score decreased in both groups but
at a slightly faster rate in the Kinesio Taping® Method group. The CMCC showed an
improvement in the functional ability of the patients in both groups.
Conclusion: There seems to be no significant difference in the relative effectiveness of
the treatment modalities. We can thus state that the overall short-term reduction in
symptomatology supports the use of NSAIDs or Kinesio Taping® Method in the
treatment of ETTH.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:dut/oai:ir.dut.ac.za:10321/521 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Henry, Justin Michael |
| Contributors | Korporaal, Charmaine Maria |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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