Effect of Neuro-Feedback Training and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Stress, Quantitative Sensory Threshold, Pain on Tension Type Headache

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of neuro-feedback training and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain in patients suffering from tension type headache. Methods: 22 participants who passed the preliminary evaluation were enrolled in the study and 11 participants were randomly assigned to each group. The control group (n=11) was subject to the TENS treatment of which was composed of a 20-minute session for 5 times a week during 4 weeks, and the experimental group (n=11) was subject to both neuro feedback training and TENS treatment for 10 minutes a day and 5 days a week during 4 weeks. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to measure a level of stress and the quantitative sensory testing (QST) was used for the measurement of cold pain threshold (CPT) and heat pain threshold (HPT); A degree of pain was evaluated through the headache impact test-6 (HIT-6). Results: In comparision of all dependent variables between the control and subject groups, there were significant differences in stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain after the treatment (p<0.05), and the experimental group showed significant differences in stress, CPT, HPT and pain (p<0.05) and the control group showed only a significant difference in HPT (p<0.05). Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrate that the concomitant administration of the TENS treatment and neuro feedback training is effective on alleviation of stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain in patients with tension type headache.