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

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01155557

Enrollment

Registered

2010-07-02

Start date

2009-08-31

Completion date

2014-08-31

Last updated

2015-03-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Tension-Type Headache

Keywords

Tension-Type Headache, Strength Capacity, Neck and Shoulder

Brief summary

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.

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.

Interventions

DEVICESpecific Strength Training

10 weeks of progressive specific strength training for neck and shoulder muscles.

BEHAVIORALLifestyle Counseling

10 weeks of counseling by nurse and physiotherapist in lifestyle changes.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

9 Years to 18 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

* post-trauma headache * co-morbidity

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Headache	At baseline	Number of headache days/ 4 weeks. Mean VAS Score (pain)/4 weeks.
Muscle Capacity	At baseline	Neck and shoulder muscle function variables: MVC(maximal voluntary static capacity). RFD(rate of force development). FS (Force-steadiness).

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
TTS	At baseline	Total Tenderness Score ( palpation of percranial tenderness).
Physical fitness	At baseline	Submaximal ergometer bicycle test

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026