Table 2.

Summary of findings for studies on massage therapy (MT) for headache pain

Study and type of headache	n	Pain duration	Comparison conditions	Outcomes	Findings (Mean reduction in pain)
Nilsson et al. (1997) (17)*
Cervicogenic Headaches	54	Not stated	Spinal manipulation (SM)
		but ≥3 m	NOTE: The above was compared with MT plus placebo	VAS pain intensity (0–10)	SMT (17.0) > MT (4.2)
			Laser	Headache duration	SMT > MT
Wylie et al. (1997) (18)
Migraine and	67	Mean = 10.2	Acupuncture	Pain total index (hours × severity)
Tension-type		years	NOTE: The above was compared	Migraine	MT (171.7) > AC (128.0)
			with MT plus relaxation	Tension-type	MT (217.0) = AC (119.5)
				Both groups combined	MT = AC
				Headache index (number × severity)
				Migraine	MT > AC
				Tension-type	MT = AC
				Both groups combined	MT = AC
				Migraine Days	MT = AC
Hanten et al. (1999) (20)	65	Not stated	Resting position (RP); No treatment (CON)
Tension-type			NOTE: The above was compared with CV-4 technique	VAS pain intensity (0–10)	MT (19.3) > [RP (11.2) = CON (7.8)]
				VAS pain affect (0–10)	MT > (RP = CON)

Note: *this study was included in the Cochrane review of non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache (15).