Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache最新文献

{"title":"Loss of SCRG1 in chondrocytes inhibits osteoarthritis by promoting autophagy activity in the temporomandibular joint through inhibition of neurokine receptors.","authors":"JiaJun Zhang, LePing Yuan, YanYan Zhang, HaoYang Jin, YeKe Zhao, XiaoKe Zeng, YanHui Zou, KeYu Wang, Xin Nie","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.020","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To investigate <i>in vitro</i> how scrapie responsive gene 1 (SCRG1) contributes to the development of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Western blotting was used to identify protein expression. Proinflammatory cytokine levels were assessed by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test. In order to find out whether chondrocytes expressed protein light chain 3B (LC3B), immunofluorescence was utilized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the TMJOA <i>in vitro</i> model, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) treatment increased the expression of SCRG1, stimulated chondrocyte catabolism and inflammatory response, and blocked autophagy. In chondrocytes, SCRG1 silencing reduces the inflammatory response, catabolism, and autophagy inhibition brought on by H₂O₂. Concurrently, H₂O₂ induction triggers the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR). When SCRG1 is downregulated, NGFR expression is inhibited and the NF-κB pathway is blocked.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>By inhibiting NGFR and blocking the NF-κB pathway, knocking down SCRG1 can prevent H₂O₂-induced inflammatory response, metabolic breakdown and autophagy inhibition in chondrocytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"196-203"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934739/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Jaw muscle and joint psychophysics-relevance for clinical orofacial pain practice and research. A narrative review.","authors":"Peter Svensson, Fernando G Exposto, Yuri Costa","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.001","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diagnosis of jaw muscle and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain has been greatly standardized with the development and implementation of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). A significant part of the DC/TMD examination-pain on palpation and jaw movements-relies on psychophysical principles in the clinical procedures. Thus, it is essential that examiners are aware of the strengths and limitations of such techniques. Here we first review the background and psychophysical techniques used in the clinic and then discuss opportunities to apply both simple and more advanced modifications in research settings to further understand musculoskeletal pain mechanisms and signatures. The goal is to facilitate development of individualized treatment and precision medicine for which a good starting point seems to be careful pain phenotyping where psychophysical testing may play a substantial role.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pseudogout of the temporomandibular joint: a case report with systematic literature review.","authors":"Matteo Val, Mirko Ragazzo, Anna Colonna, Marco Ferrari, Edoardo Ferrari Cagidiaco, Daniele Manfredini, Luca Guarda Nardini","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.004","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) is a metabolic disease resulting in acute arthritis. CPPD often affects joints containing fibrocartilage. The purpose of this review is to examine the clinical presentations, prevalence, and treatment modalities associated with CPPD when it affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A search, following PRISMA guideline, was conducted in various electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) to find relevant studies about CPPD in the temporomandibular joint. The search spanned from 01 January 1980, to 31 January 2024. A case report was also presented.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A systematic review of literature identified 64 papers, reaching a total of 74 cases of CPPD of the temporomandibular joint TMJ. CPPD is a condition that typically affects middle-aged or older patients, with an average age of around 60 at the time of diagnosis. Females are affected more frequently than males. Most cases involve unilateral TMJ involvement, and common symptoms include pain, reduced mouth opening, and swelling. Different papers also describe severe stages of the invasion of muscles, parotid gland, and even brain structure. Surgery has the preferred treatment option for most Authors and is mandatory for late-stage lesions. The recurrence rate is extremely low.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CPPD is an uncommon, locally invasive, and typically benign condition that rarely affects the TMJ. Distinguishing CPDD in the TMJ from other neoplasms poses diagnostic challenges. A definitive diagnosis necessitates histological examination and quantitative microanalysis. In our patient, successful excision of CPDD in the TMJ was achieved using an external approach.</p><p><strong>The prospero registration: </strong>PROSPERO number is CRD42024558402.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"49-69"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934741/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The gut-masticatory muscles-temporomandibular joint pain axis-a scoping review.","authors":"Gayathri Krishnamoorthy, Aparna Narayana, Dhanasekar Balakrishnan","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.021","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Orofacial pain has become the most common debilitating disease resulting in high healthcare costs, and compromising the quality of life, speech, aesthetics and masticatory function of those affected. As its aetiology is multifactorial and as the treatment involves a multidisciplinary holistic approach, arriving at a confirmative diagnosis is challenging. Numerous studies have been published that support the bidirectional link between gut health and other organs like the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, neurological and hormonal. Recent studies indicate a potential link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and chronic orofacial and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. In this review, we enumerate the link between the metabolites released by the gut bacteria and how they regulate the pain mechanism of various types of orofacial pain like chronic, neuropathic and inflammatory in the orofacial and TMJ regions. We also discuss the potential link between pain and gender predisposition. Further, we review the recent non-invasive therapeutic options which can be put forth to use for treating orofacial and TMJ pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"24-33"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934742/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of pain location according to different types of bruxism.","authors":"Burcu Anasız Kıranatlı, Özer İşisağ","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.016","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to assess the influence of bruxism types and frequencies on pain localisation in individuals with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study participants included 100 TMD patients. Participants consented to undergo clinical evaluations based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Assessment Instruments Protocol (DC/TMD). Pain was determined by palpating the temporal and masseter muscles and the temporomandibular junction (TMJ). The oral behavior checklist (OBC) was used in DC/TMD to assess participants' risk for parafunctional movements and types of bruxism. The parafunctional risk assessment was performed with the assessment method reported by The International Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Consortium Network.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most participants are at high risk for parafunction. There was a statistically significant relationship between masseter, temporal and TMJ pain and parafunctional movements (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Masseter pain on palpation showed significant relationships with sleep bruxism and awake grinding frequency (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Temporal muscle pain on palpation showed significant relationships with the presence and frequency of awake clenching (<i>p</i> < 0.05). A significant correlation exists between TMJ pain on palpation and awake grinding and clenching and with awake clenching frequence (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Based on their frequency and presence, different types of bruxism may be associated with different pain symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"157-164"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934740/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of continuous and pulse mode of ultrasound therapy in temporomandibular disorders associated myalgia-a randomized controlled study.","authors":"Bhawna Saini, Ambika Gupta, Harneet Singh, Suman Bisla, Suriya Nagarajan, Komal Kumia","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.007","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Temporomandibular disorders associated myalgia (TMD-M) is one of the most common patient complaints in clinics. Because of the disease's multifactorial etiology and complexity,extensive understanding is required to determine an appropriate treatment protocol.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The current randomized comparison study included 80 patients who presented to the outpatient department with a TMD-M complaint. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: continuous therapeutic ultrasound or pulsed therapeutic ultrasound, according to a standard protocol. The key outcome measures were pain intensity (visual analog scale (VAS), 0-10 cm) and muscle pressure pain threshold (PPT). Secondary outcome assessments included changes in maximal mouth opening, functional movements, and depression (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)). A descriptive analysis was performed on the dataset to get data estimates for all variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The means of the differences in the two group's values were compared. Intergroup comparisons for normally distributed data were performed using independent sample <i>t</i>-tests, and intragroup comparisons using repeated-measures Analysis of variance (ANOVA). For non-normally distributed data, such as pressure pain sensitivity (PPT), BDI, left laterotrusive movement (LLT), and protrusive movement (PM), intergroup comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney test, and intragroup comparisons using the Friedman test followed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Although the intragroup changes in visual analogue scale (VAS) score, PPT, BDI, LLT and PM were highly significant in both groups (<i>p</i> < 0.001), there was no significant intergroup difference in pain reduction, PPT, BDI, LLT or PM (<i>p</i> > 0.05). There were no significant intergroup or intragroup differences in mouth opening or right lateral movement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both the pulse and continuous modes of therapeutic ultrasound (US) are equally effective in relieving pain. US therapy in both modes is a potent and independent therapeutic modality for the treatment of TMD-M.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>NCT05211245.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"81-92"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934737/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating headache referral trends and practices across different settings in neurology clinics: insights from an international cross-sectional multicenter study.","authors":"Hamit Genc, Derya Uluduz, Hayrunnisa Bolay, Betul Baykan, Isin Unal-Cevik, Najib Kissani, Otgonbayar Luvsannorov, Mansoureh Togha, Asena Ayca Ozdemir, Aynur Ozge","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.019","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Misdiagnoses often lead to suboptimal therapeutic approaches, making early and accurate diagnoses by experts crucial for effective headache management. This study primarily aims to investigate the referred patient profiles with headaches to optimize diagnostic and referral approaches.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional multicenter international study, sixty-nine neurologists from 13 countries evaluated headache patients referred to neurology clinics (NCs). Researchers recruited patients on different weekdays selected by the research randomizer program for five consecutive weeks in April and May 2022. The clinicians collected data on various factors such as age, sex, headache characteristics and accompanying symptoms using the Head-MENAA study questionnaire and the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 (ICHD-3) criteria. Patients were grouped according to the settings as emergency services (ESs), other specialty clinics (OSCs) and private offices (POs) in which they were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 3722 individuals out of 12043 evaluated in NCs had headache complaints. Among them, 15.07% consisted of patients referred to neurology by these three different settings. 14.8% of them were referred from ESs, 16.58% from OSCs, and 68.64% were applied to POs. While there was not a significant difference between groups regarding the mean age, the proportion of male patients in the ESs (49.4%) was higher than those in OSCs (26.9%) and POs (23.1%) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Headache severity was higher in the ESs and POs than in the OSCs and Neurology Outpatient Clinics (NOCs) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Primary headaches were the reason for consultation in 89.2% of patients in the ESs, 90.3% of patients in OSCs and 93.5% of patients in POs, migraine without aura being the most common headache type in all groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study suggests that preferences for admission and referral may vary based on demographic characteristics, types and severity of the headache, as well as accessibility and availability of different settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"187-195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporomandibular disorder confounders in motor vehicle accident patients.","authors":"Xiang Li, Vandana Singh, Camila Pacheco-Pereira, Reid Friesen","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.014","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) are associated with the onset of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms. However, diagnosing TMD-related pain is challenging due to various entities that can refer pain to the region. This study aims to identify prevalent radiographic confounders to pain diagnosis in MVA patients who were subsequently referred for temporomandibular joint imaging using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) by comparing these patients to a cohort of patients without MVA history.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CBCTs of 738 temporomandibular joints were reviewed, with cases stratified by MVA history. This research explored the demographics and calculated the prevalence of radiographic confounders (RC) in each category, comparing the findings for both groups. The chi-square test was used to assess statistical significance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients in the MVA cohort (n = 151, mean age = 41.3 years, S.D (Standard Deviation) = 13.3 years) averaged 1.10 confounders/patient compared to a significantly lower 0.68 confounders/patient in the non-MVA cohort (n = 218, mean age = 33.6 years, S.D = 18.2 years). The most frequently identified RCs include sinus pathologies (39.1% (MVA) <i>vs.</i> 28.0% (non-MVA), <i>p</i> = 0.025) and endodontic lesions (22.5% (MVA) <i>vs.</i>10.1% (non-MVA), <i>p</i> = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinicians must be vigilant about confounders when managing patients suspected of TMD. We recommend patients undergo a complete dental evaluation before being referred to a specialist to avoid unnecessary medical costs and treatment delays.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"141-147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933927/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporomandibular disorders patients with migraine symptoms have increased disease burden due to psychological conditions.","authors":"Soo Haeng Lee, Jung Hwan Jo, Ji Woon Park","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.006","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Various studies have demonstrated a close link between headaches and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, the results are often limited to certain clinical aspects and are based on a cross-sectional study design. This study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics of patients with both TMD and migraine symptoms and to assess the long-term treatment outcomes compared to TMD patients without migraine.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty-four TMD patients were evaluated using the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD protocol and validated questionnaires, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, PHQ-15, the Graded Chronic Pain Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R). Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of migraine symptoms requiring medication. The study compared psychological and clinical profiles, as well as long-term treatment outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The migraine group exhibited greater psychological distress, as indicated by higher scores in the SCL-90-R subscales for somatization (<i>p</i> = 0.035), obsessive-compulsive behavior (<i>p</i> = 0.015), interpersonal sensitivity (<i>p</i> = 0.002), depression (<i>p</i> = 0.035), anxiety (<i>p</i> = 0.042), hostility (<i>p</i> = 0.004), paranoid ideation (<i>p</i> = 0.016), and psychoticism (<i>p</i> = 0.044). Additionally, they scored higher on the PHQ-9 (<i>p</i> = 0.023) and PHQ-15 (<i>p</i> = 0.016). Pain levels were higher in the migraine group at 3 months post-treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.023) but the difference with the non-migraine group disappeared 6 months post-treatment. Younger age (odds ratio (OR) = 0.844, <i>p</i> = 0.001), female (OR = 0.001, <i>p</i> = 0.011), and more positive sites on masticatory muscle palpation (OR = 2.580, <i>p</i> = 0.011) were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing migraine. Mental illness history (β = -0.465, <i>p</i> = 0.002), tongue ridging (β = -0.683, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and Oral Behavior Checklist scores (β = 0.483, <i>p</i> = 0.002) were associated with TMD pain intensity in the migraine group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>TMD patients using sumatriptan for migraine symptoms had higher levels of disability and psychological distress, leading to an increased disease burden. Although the migraine group had worse short-term TMD treatment outcomes, these differences resolved after six months of treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"70-80"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933985/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The efficacy of physiotherapy approaches in chronic tension-type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Dilara Onan, Halime Arıkan, Esme Ekizoğlu, Bahar Taşdelen, Aynur Özge, Paolo Martelletti","doi":"10.22514/jofph.2025.003","DOIUrl":"10.22514/jofph.2025.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although pharmacologic therapies are considered the first choice for the treatment of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), physiotherapy and rehabilitation approaches are also used in the management of patients with CTTH. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of physiotherapy approaches in CTTH through a systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The following electronic databases were searched, PubMed and Web of Science databases. Common primary outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were changes in the intensity and duration of headaches, headache frequency, disability and headache impact. The methodologic quality (completeness of reporting and risk of bias) of trial reports included in systematic reviews was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale ratings. We also performed data synthesis and quantitative analysis of the eligible data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine RCTs were included in the review. Seven studies related to intensity of headache (IH), three on headache frequency (HF), three on headache duration (HD), and two on headache impact were eligible for quantitative analysis. Analysis of the data showed that neck-shoulder strength exercises, electroacupuncture, and approaches targeting muscle relaxation improved the IH (-1.17 (-1.86, -0.49) <i>p</i> < 0.01) and reduced the HD (-0.71 (-1.31, -0.12), <i>p</i> = 0.02); the approaches targeting muscle relaxation and neck-shoulder strength exercises induced a significant decrease in the HF (-1.36 (-2.47, -0.26), <i>p</i> = 0.02) in patients with CTTH in comparison with the control groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Neck-shoulder strength exercises and muscle relaxation are effective in reducing the intensity, duration, and frequency of headaches and electroacupuncture causes significant improvement in the duration and intensity of headaches in patients with CTTH.</p><p><strong>The prospero registration: </strong>PROSPERO number is CRD42023457085.</p>","PeriodicalId":48800,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache","volume":"39 1","pages":"34-48"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11934752/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}