Kinesiotherapy in chronic back pain and combined tension type headache

Abstract

Kinesiotherapy is eff ective in the treatment of chronic nonspecific back pain (CNBP), but its eff ectiveness in tensiontype headache (TTH) is unclear. The effectiveness of kinesiotherapy in patients with CNBP and comorbid TTH has been little studied.The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of kinesiotherapy in patients with CNBS and comorbid TTH. Patients and methods. 52 patients (22 men and 30 women, mean age 32.4 ± 7.5 years) with CNBP and combined TTH were included in the study. All patients received standard treatment, of which 28 patients received kinesiotherapy (Group 1) and 24 patients were included in the comparison group (Group 2). All patients used pain diaries. All patients were tested by using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck’s Depression Inventory, the Pain Catastrophization Scale, the Kinesiophobia Scale, the Oswestry Disability Index, the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire, the Headache Impact Test 6, numerical pain rating scale before treatment and 3, 6 months after treatment. Clinical effcacy was assessed by reducing the frequency and intensity of headache (by ≥ 50%), back pain (by ≥ 30%), and by increasing functional activity during the day (by ≥ 30%).Results. At 6 months follow-up signifiantly more patients in group 1 than in group 2 achieved a clinical effect on TTH and CNBP: 78.5% (n = 22) compared to 41.7% (n = 10); OR (95% CI) = 1.99. In 9 patients (32%) of group 1, a complete remission of TTH and CNBP was noted, in group 2 there were no such patients. At 6 months follow-up group 1 showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in comparison with group 2 in terms of functional activity and emotional state.Conclusion. Kinesiotherapy for CNBP and combined TTH is effective both for back pain and headache. It increases functional activity and improves the emotional state of patients.