Tension Type Headache

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Note

• Welzack Chapter 59 Tension-Type Headache¹

Epidemiology

Women > men

Etiology

• Myofascial tension
• Postural dysfunction
• Genetic component (Familial history)

Clinical Presentation

Precipitating factors:

• Stress
• Tension

Onset:

• Usually you don’t wake up w this type of headache
• Builds over the course of the day
• No warning signs
  • No aura

Area of symptoms:

• Typically bilateral
  • muscles of the head
  • Periorbital, temporal and occipital

Duration:

• May occur daily for several hours a day
• Chronic potentially in nature

Symptoms

Quality:

• Dull ache
• Tight band
• Heavy weight on head
• Mod to severe

Associated symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• C/S Pain
• Photophobia

Treatment

Physical therapy

PT School recommendations

• Trigger point release
• STM/MFR
• Upper C/S HVLAT or mobs
• Diaphragmatic breathing
• Stretching
• Strengthening
• Pt education

References

1.

McMahon SB, ed. Wall and Melzack’s Textbook of Pain. 6th ed. Elsevier/Saunders; 2013.