Table 1.
Main characteristics of the included studies
| Author (year) | Outcome measures | Description of interventions | Time to outcome measurement | Population | Type of headache | Relevant outcome results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerritelli et al, 201526 | Effectiveness of OMT in terms of the following: 1) HIT-6 score, 2) days/mo with migraine, 3) severity of pain, 4) amount of rescue medication, 5) functional disability, and 6) adverse effects of OMT |
OMT (n=35): Description: NBT, 8 sessions (4 weekly, 2 bimonthly, 2 monthly, 30 min) Concomitant treatments: Y, triptans at need Control 1 (n=35): sham OMT Description: sham OMT, 8 sessions (4 weekly, 2 bimonthly, 2 monthly, 30 min) Concomitant treatments: Y, triptans at need Control 2 (n=35): usual care Description: triptans at need |
6 mo | N=105; age =38.7±9.3 years; male =34% | Migraine (according to ICHD-II) | Decrease of HIT-6 score for OMT vs controls (p<0.001) Decrease in days of migraine for OMT vs controls (p<0.001) Decrease in pain intensity for OMT vs controls (p<0.001) Decrease in drug consumption for OMT vs controls (p<0.001) Adverse events: none |
| Rolle et al, 201428 | Efficacy of OMT in terms of the following: 1) headache frequency, 2) headache pain intensity, 3) over-the-counter medication use, and 4) HDI |
OMT (n=2l): Description: NBT, 4 sessions (weekly) Concomitant treatments: Y, not specified Control (n=l9): sham OMT Description: sham OMT, 4 sessions (4 weekly) Concomitant treatments: Y, not specified |
4 w; follow-up at l and 3 mo | N=40; age =34.5±12 years; male =14% | Frequent episodic TTH (according to ICHD-III) | Headache frequency: OMT vs control: 33% decrease (p<0.001) Pain intensity: 20% reduction within OMT group compared to baseline (p<0.001) Drug consumption: 45% reduction within OMT group compared to baseline (p<0.001) Adverse events: none |
| Voigt et al, 201129 | Effectiveness of OMT in terms of the following: 1) HRQoL, 2) pain intensity, 3) days of migraine headache, 4) working disability, 5) German “Pain Questionnaire”, and 6) MIDAS, and 7) SF-36 |
OMT (n=2l): Description: NBT, 5 sessions (bimonthly, 50 min) Concomitant treatments: Y, not specified Control (n=2l): no intervention Description: not specified |
6 mo | N=42; age =45±II years; male =0% | Migraine (according to ICD-10) | Decrease in pain intensity (within group): OMT (p<0.05), control (p=0.87) Decrease in days of migraine (within group): OMT (p=0.31); control (p=0.89) Decrease in working disability (within group): OMT (p=0.06); control (p=0.47) Decrease in MIDAS (within group): OMT (p=0.04); control (p=0.76) |
| Anderson and Seniscal, 200625 | Effects of OMT in terms of the following: 1) headache frequency, 2) headache intensity, 3) HD, and 4) HI |
OMT (n=l4): Description: protocol, 3 sessions (weekly) Concomitant treatments: Y, PMR Control (n=l2): PMR Description: relaxation exercise (l/day, 20 min) |
6 w | N=26; age = NA; male = NA | Any type of TTH (according to IHS 2004) | Decrease in headache frequency (free days/w): OMT vs control (p=0.016) |
| Hoyt et al, 197927 | Effects of OMT in terms of the following: 1) headache pain intensity and 2) EMG |
OMT (n=10): Description: protocol, 1 session (same day, 10 min) Concomitant treatments: NA Control 1 (n=6): OE Description: protocol, 1 session (same day, 10 min) Concomitant treatments: NA Control 2 (n=6): rest Description: supine Concomitant treatments: NA |
IAT | N=22; age = NA; male = NA | Chronic muscle tension headache | Decrease in headache intensity (worst headache improvement): OMT vs control (p=0.07) Pain intensity: among 3 groups: F=17.16 (p<0.00!); reduction within OMT group compared to baseline (p<0.00!) |
Abbreviations: OMT, osteopathic manipulative treatment; HIT-6, headache impact test-6; NBT, need-based treatment; PMR, progressive muscular relaxation exercises; OE, osteopathic evaluation; HD, headache diary; HDI, headache disability index; HI, headache index; EMG, electromyography; IAT, immediately after treatment; NA, not available; TTH, tension type headache; ICHD, International Classification of Headache Disorders; ICD, International Classification of Diseases; IHS, International Headache Society; Y, yes; mo, months; w, weeks; min, minutes; MIDAS, Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire; SF-36, Short Form-36.