Manual Therapy and Pain Changes in Patients with Migraine ? An Open Pilot Study

The purpose of the study was to investigate the results of a manual therapy program, composed of hot pack, classical massage and connective tissue manipulation, in 30 female patients with migraine. The treatment lasted for a total of 20 sessions. The subjects were evaluated before and after the treatment and also controlled 6 months after the treatment. The evaluations were consisted of: assessment of pain intensity, frequency, accompanying symptoms (vomiting, nausea, phonophobia and difficulty to concentrate) and number of analgesic drugs used in a month. In comparison with the results of data obtained from the evaluations prior to and after the treatment, statistically significant decreases were determined in pain intensity, frequency, accompanying symptoms and number of analgesic drugs used in a month (p < 0.01). Also these effects were found to be maintained during a photophobia, period of 6 months after the treatment, when compared to the post-treatment evaluation results (p > 0.05). In conclusion, a manual therapy program composed of hot pack, classical massage and connective tissue manipulation was found to be associated with positive changes in patients with migraine.