Research Looks at Massage Benefits for Headaches

Headache disorders, which are among the most common of nervous systems disorders, are prevalent across the globe. Figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2021 indicate headache disorders affect 40 percent of the population or 3.1 billion people worldwide. However, only a minority of people with headache disorders are diagnosed appropriately and treated by a health care provider. Furthermore, headaches have been underestimated, under-recognized and under-treated globally. [1]

 

These debilitating head disorders disproportionately affect women, with overall prevalence being 20.7 percent in females and 9.7 percent in males. As the disorders relate to age, the highest prevalence is found between the ages of 18 and 44.[2]

 

 

Types of headache disorders

 

Migraine: A migraine is much more than an excruciating headache. It is a brain disorder often disabling. Migraine headache symptoms include vertigo, nausea, and cognitive dysfunction. Sometimes there are no migraine headache symptoms at all. You can characterize migraines by frequency and by appearance.[3]

 

About frequency, there is episodic migraine, which is less than 15 days a month, and chronic. When it comes to appearance, one type has an aura (classic migraine); the other does not. An aura is a sensory disturbance occurring before the migraine, including flashes of light, blind spots, and other vision changes, or tingling in your hand or face.

 

Currently it is not known what the exact causes of migraines are. They may stem from the release of pain producing inflammatory substances around the nerves and blood vessels around the head. Migraine headache triggers may be alcohol, sleep disruption and certain foods. [4]

 

Tension headache: Tension-type headache is the most common type of headache. Tension headaches are described as pressure or tightness, like a band, around the head. Sometimes they spread into or emanate from the neck. Tension headaches can be episodic, occurring less than 15 days per month, or episodic, with attacks lasting a few hours or continuing for several days. Stress may be a trigger for tension headaches. Stress can cause tight muscles in the neck and shoulder, which can lead to a tension headache. [5]

 

Tension headache symptoms include:[6]

 

·         Dull, aching head pain

·         Feeling of tightness or pressure across the forehead or across the sides and back of the head

·         Tenderness in the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles

 

Cluster headache: A cluster headache is pain on one side of the head, lasting anywhere from 15 minutes up to three hours. Cluster headache symptoms can include burning, piercing, or throbbing or the pain can be constant. Pain from a cluster headache can occur daily for weeks to months, often presenting itself at the same time each day up to eight times a day. It also can occur at the same time during the night. [7]

 

Medication-overuse headaches: Excessive use of medication to treat headaches can result in medication-overuse headaches. This type of headache may affect up to 5 percent of some populations, affecting women more than men. [8]

 

Role of massage for headaches

 

While medication is the most conventional way to treat headache symptoms, some research suggests headache massage therapy may provide relief. Because the research data is limited, massage for headaches is not part of the official treatment recommendation from the American Headache Society. However, research shows headache massage therapy is beneficial in relieving common headache triggers, such as anxiety, stress, and sleep issues.[9]

 

Research studies on massages for headaches

 

Massage therapy for migraine headaches

 

A study conducted in 2024 involved 50 participants between the ages of 18 and 60 diagnosed with migraine. At baseline, massage and control group participants reported similar levels of pain intensity. Following the headache massage intervention, the massage group exhibited a substantial reduction in the intensity of pain. By comparison, the control group showed a more modest reduction in relief from pain from baseline to post intervention, with a marginal increase during the follow-up assessment. [10]

 

In other migraine headache massage therapy related research:[11]

 

A U.S. study of people with migraines separated 26 participants into two groups. The control group had no intervention, while a massage group got two massages a week for 5 weeks. Results indicated the massage group did better:

·         Much less migraine pain

• More headache-free days
• Fewer sleep problems
• Higher levels of serotonin, the feel-good hormone

 

Another 13-week New Zealand study of nearly 50 people also divided participants into a control and a massage group.  The headache massage group received weekly massages during weeks 5-10. Compared with the control group, the massage group reported:

• Less frequent migraines
• Decreases in anxiety, heart rate, and stress hormone cortisol
• Better stress management and coping skills
• Improved sleep quality

 

 

Massage therapy and frequency of chronic tension headaches

 

The purpose of the study conducted in 2000 was to determine the effect of massage therapy on chronic tension headache sufferers to provide headache massage relief. The study participants received structured massage therapy treatment directed toward neck and should muscles. Researchers recorded and compared headache frequency, duration, and intensity to baseline measures.

 

A four-week measurement period prior to treatment established an individual’s baseline measures. Following the baseline period, participants received a 4-week treatment program that included therapeutic massage and trigger-point treatment of six muscles: upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital, splenius capitis, levator scapulae, and temporalis

 

Relative to headache massage relief, researchers found that headache frequency was significantly reduced within the first week of the massage protocol compared with baseline values. The reduction of headache frequency continued for the rest of the study. Furthermore, headache duration tended to decrease during the period of massage treatment. Headache intensity was not affected by massage, though.

 

Researchers concluded that the muscle specific massage therapy technique employed in the study can potentially be a functional, nonpharmacological intervention to reduce chronic tenson headaches incidents. [12]

 

How massage for headaches helps

 

The benefits of massages for headaches include:[13]

 

·         Relax muscles: By releasing tension in the head, neck, and shoulder muscles, massage therapy can help reduce the intensity and frequency of tension headache attacks.

·         Improve circulation: By increasing blood flow, massage promotes oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain. This helps alleviate symptoms of migraine headaches.

·         Reduce stress: Stress is a contributing factor for both tension and migraine headache attacks. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, massage therapy can help in providing relief.

 

Massages have been shown in research to reduce some of the intensity and frequency of headaches. Clients experiencing chronic headaches still will want to consult with their medical professionals before scheduling massage.