Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Tension Headache in Post-Pubertal Females

NCT07417644 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: P.T.REC/012/005135
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will be carried out to evaluate the effect of laser acupuncture on tension headache in post-pubertal females.

Conditions

Tension Headache

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Assessment of pain intensity

  It will be assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst possible pain).

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Assessment of trigger point threshold

  6 weeks

• Assessment of headache severity

  6 weeks

• Cervical Flexion Range of Motion

  6 weeks

• Cervical Extension Range of Motion:

  6 weeks

• Right Cervical Lateral Flexion Range of Motion:

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Low energy laser acupuncture + Myofascial release technique

EXPERIMENTAL

It will consist of 30 post-pubertal females diagnosed with tension headache, who will receive low energy laser acupuncture treatment, a duration of 40 seconds, three times per week for 6 weeks in addition to myofascial release technique.

Other: Low energy laser acupuncture; Other: Myofascial release technique

Myofascial release technique

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

It will consist of 30 post-pubertal females diagnosed with tension headache, who will receive the same myofascial release technique only.

Other: Myofascial release technique

Interventions

Low energy laser acupuncture OTHER

The experimental group will receive low-energy laser acupuncture therapy. The laser will deliver 1.3 joules (approximately 13 joules per square centimeter) per point at 100 percent output in continuous mode, applied with vertical contact and slight pressure for 40 seconds per point. Four acupuncture points will be treated bilaterally according to published protocols: Gallbladder 14 and Gallbladder 20 as local head points, and Large Intestine 4 and Lung 7 as distal points on the hand and forearm. Both therapist and patient will wear protective goggles during treatment for safety.

Low energy laser acupuncture + Myofascial release technique

Myofascial release technique OTHER

All participant in both groups will receive myofascial release technique for 6 weeks. Soft tissue and trigger point release techniques will be applied on the muscles/fascia reproducing the patient's symptoms (the occipitalis, suboccipitalis, splenius, sternocleidomastoid, and trapezius). Various myofascial techniques will employed such as effleurage, deep friction massage, ischemic compression and muscle energy techniques.

Low energy laser acupuncture + Myofascial release technique; Myofascial release technique

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Their age will be ranged from 15 to 18 years.
• Their body mass index (BMI) will be ranged from 20-25 Kg/m2.
• All participants will be diagnosed with tension type headache for which they haven't receive any treatment in the previous two weeks.
• Pain quality is typically pressing or tightening of mild to moderate intensity, bilateral in location and not worsening during routine physical activity.
• Absence of nausea and vomiting.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with other causes of headache.
• Patients who have pulsating headaches, neurological deficits or metabolic disorders.
• Contraindications to treatment (other simultaneous treatment, localized skin infection, fear).
• Previous head trauma.
• Previous physical therapy treatment for tension type headache during the last 6 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Secondary schools

Cairo, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tension-Type Headache

Interventions

Myofascial Release Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Headache Disorders, Primary; Headache Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Massage; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Soheir Mahmoud El-Kosery, PhD

  Professor, Cairo University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Mohamed Fawzy Abu-Elenin, PhD

  Consultant

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Mona Mohamed Nour El Din Morsi, M.Sc

CONTACT

+20 10 18447734; monanour2011@gmail.com

Soheir Mahmoud El-Kosery, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2026
• First Posted: February 18, 2026
• Study Start: February 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026
• Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

EG (1)