The full research report of “Positional Release Therapy Helps Ease Headaches,” ran in the print edition of MASSAGE Magazine’s September 2012 issue. Here are the references included in the study:

  1. Fernandez de las Penas C, Alonso Blanco C, Cuadrado ML, Gerwin RD, Pareja JA. Myofascial Trigger Points and Their Relationship to Headache Clinical Parameters in Chronic Tension Type Headache. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 2006; 46(8): 1264-72.
  2. Fernandez de las Penas C, Cleland J, Cuadrado M, Pareja J. Predictor variables for identifying patients with chronic tension type headache who are liekly to achieve short term success with muscle trigger point therapy. Cephalalgia 2008; 28(3): 264-75.
  3. Harden RN, Cottrill J, Gagnon CM, Smitherman TA, Weinland SR, Tann B, et al. Botulinum Toxin A in the Treatment of Chronic Tension Type Headache With Cervical Myofascial Trigger Points: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Pilot Study.  Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 2009; 49(5): 732-43.
  4. Davidoff R. Trigger points and myofascial pain: toward understanding how they affect headaches. Cephalalgia 1998; 18(7): 436.
  5. Ross E. Pain Management – Hot Topics: Hanley & Belfus, 2004.
  6. Lous I, Olesen J. Evaluation of pericranial tenderness and oral function in patients with common migraine, muscle contraction headache and [] combination headache’. Pain 1982; 12(4): 385-93.
  7. Marcus DA, Scharff L, Mercer S, Turk DC. Musculoskeletal abnormalities in chronic headache: a controlled comparison of headache diagnostic groups. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 1999; 39(1): 21-27.
  8. Fricton JR, Kroening R, Haley D, Siegert R. Myofascial pain syndrome of the head and neck: a review of clinical characteristics of 164 patients. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology 1985; 60(6): 615-23.
  9. Travell JG, Simons DG. Myofascial pain and dysfunction: the trigger point manual: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 1992.
  10. Lenssinck MLB, Damen L, Verhagen AP, Berger MY, Passchier J, Koes BW. The effectiveness of physiotherapy and manipulation in patients with tension-type headache: a systematic review. Pain 2004; 112(3): 381-88.
  11. Moraska A, Chandler C. Changes in clinical parameters in patients with tension-type headache following massage therapy: A pilot study. The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy 2008; 16(2): 106.
  12. Venancio RA, Alencar Jr F, Zamperini C. Botulinum toxin, lidocaine, and dry-needling injections in patients with myofascial pain and headaches. Cranio: The Journal of Craniomandibular Practice 2009; 27(1): 46.
  13. von Stulpnagel C, Reilich P, Straube A, Schafer J, Blaschek A, Lee SH, et al. Myofascial trigger points in children with tension-type Headache: A new diagnostic and therapeutic option. Journal of Child Neurology 2009; 24(4): 406.
  14. D’Ambrogio K, Roth G. Positional release therapy. Mosby, St. Louis, 1997.
  15. Dommerholt J, Bron C, Franssen J. Myofascial trigger points: an evidence-informed review. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy 2006; 14(4): 203-21.
  16. Giamberardino MA, Tafuri E, Savini A, Fabrizio A, Affaitati G, Lerza R, et al. Contribution of myofascial trigger points to migraine symptoms. The Journal of Pain 2007; 8(11): 869-78.
  17. Fernandez de las Penas C, Simons DG, Cuadrado ML, Pareja JA. The role of myofascial trigger points in musculoskeletal pain syndromes of the head and neck. Current Pain and Headache Reports 2007; 11(5): 365-72.
  18. Calandre EP, Hidalgo J, Garcia-Leiva JM, Rico-Villademoros F, Delgado-Rodriguez A. Myofascial trigger points in cluster headache patients: A case series. Head & Face Medicine 2008; 4(1): 32.
  19. Garcia Leiva JM, Hidalgo J, Rico Villademoros F, Moreno V, Calandre EP. Effectiveness of ropivacaine trigger points inactivation in the prophylactic management of patients with severe migraine. Pain Medicine 2007; 8(1): 65-70.
  20. Bradley WG. Neurology in Clinical Practice: Principles of diagnosis and management: Taylor and Francis, 2004.
  21. Ashina S, Bendtsen L, Ashina M. Pathophysiology of tension-type headache. Current Pain and Headache Reports 2005; 9(6): 415-22.
  22. Ropper AH, Brown RH. Adams and Victor’s principles of neurology: McGraw-Hill Medical, 2009.
  23. Chaitow L, DeLany J. Clinical application of neuromuscular techniques: the upper body: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2008.
  24. Fernandez de las Penas C, Cuadrado M, Arendt-Nielsen L, Simons D, Pareja J. Myofascial trigger points and sensitization: an updated pain model for tension-type headache. Cephalalgia 2007; 27(5): 383.
  25. Millea PJ, Brodie JJ. Tension-type headache. American Family Physician 2002; 66(5): 797-806.
  26. Park HJ, Moon DE. Pharmacologic management of chronic pain. The Korean Journal of Pain 2010; 23(2): 99.