Effects on temporomandibular disorder in the treatment of tension-type headache with acupuncture and therapeutic exercises. A secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives To examine the effects of acupuncture and therapeutic exercise alone and in combination on temporomandibular joint symptoms in tension-type headache and to evaluate the potential interaction of existing temporomandibular dysfunction on the success of headache treatment. Design Pre-planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled, non-blinded trial. Setting Outpatient clinic of a German university hospital. Subjects Ninety-six Participants with frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headache were randomized to one of four treatment groups. Interventions Six weeks of acupuncture or therapeutic exercise either as monotherapies or in combination, or usual care. Follow-up at 3 and 6 months. Main measures Subjective temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms were measured using the Functional Questionnaire Masticatory Organ, and the influence of this sum score and objective initial dental examination on the efficacy of headache treatment interventions was analyzed. Results Temporomandibular dysfunction score improved in all intervention groups at 3-month follow-up (usual care: 0.05 [SD 1.435]; acupuncture: −5 [SD 1.436]; therapeutic exercise: −4 [SD 1.798]; combination: −3 [SD 1.504]; P = 0.03). After 6 months, only acupuncture (−6 [SD 1.736]) showed a significant improvement compared to the usual care group ( P < 0.01). Subjective temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms had no overall influence on headache treatment. Conclusions Only acupuncture had long-lasting positive effects on the symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction. Significant dental findings seem to inhibit the efficacy of acupuncture for tension-type headache.