U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Tension-type headache

MedGen UID:
18737
•Concept ID:
C0033893
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Headache, Idiopathic; Headache, Psychogenic; Headache, Stress; Headache, Tension; Headache, Tension-Type; Headaches, Idiopathic; Headaches, Psychogenic; Headaches, Stress; Headaches, Tension; Headaches, Tension-Type; Idiopathic Headache; Idiopathic Headaches; Psychogenic Headache; Psychogenic Headaches; Stress Headache; Stress Headaches; Tension Headache; Tension Headaches; Tension Type Headache; Tension-Type Headache; Tension-Type Headaches
SNOMED CT: Psychogenic headache (66551002); Stress headache (66551002); Tension-type headache (398057008); Tension headache (398057008)
 
HPO: HP:0012228

Definition

A type of headache that last hours with continuous pain of mild or moderate intensity, bilateral location, a pressing/tightening (non-pulsating) quality and that is not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • Tension-type headache

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Post-traumatic headache attributed to traumatic brain injury: classification, clinical characteristics, and treatment.
Ashina H, Eigenbrodt AK, Seifert T, Sinclair AJ, Scher AI, Schytz HW, Lee MJ, De Icco R, Finkel AG, Ashina M
Lancet Neurol 2021 Jun;20(6):460-469. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00094-6. PMID: 34022171
Diagnosis and Management of Headache: A Review.
Robbins MS
JAMA 2021 May 11;325(18):1874-1885. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.1640. PMID: 33974014
Migraine and Tension-Type Headache: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Burch R
Med Clin North Am 2019 Mar;103(2):215-233. Epub 2018 Dec 3 doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.003. PMID: 30704678

Curated

UK NICE Guideline CG150, Headaches in over 12s: diagnosis and management, 2021

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Neck pain and headache: Pathophysiology, treatments and future directions.
Al-Khazali HM, Krøll LS, Ashina H, Melo-Carrillo A, Burstein R, Amin FM, Ashina S
Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2023 Aug;66:102804. Epub 2023 Jun 16 doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102804. PMID: 37394323
The comparative effects of spinal manipulation, myofascial release and exercise in tension-type headache patients with neck pain: A randomized controlled trial.
Corum M, Aydin T, Medin Ceylan C, Kesiktas FN
Complement Ther Clin Pract 2021 May;43:101319. Epub 2021 Jan 24 doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101319. PMID: 33517104
Global, regional, and national burden of migraine and tension-type headache, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.
GBD 2016 Headache Collaborators
Lancet Neurol 2018 Nov;17(11):954-976. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30322-3. PMID: 30353868Free PMC Article
Headache: Tension-Type Headache.
Scripter C
FP Essent 2018 Oct;473:17-20. PMID: 30346680
Effects of physical therapy and relaxation techniques on the parameters of pain in university students with tension-type headache: A randomised controlled clinical trial.
Álvarez-Melcón AC, Valero-Alcaide R, Atín-Arratibel MA, Melcón-Álvarez A, Beneit-Montesinos JV
Neurologia (Engl Ed) 2018 May;33(4):233-243. Epub 2016 Aug 1 doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2016.06.008. PMID: 27491303

Diagnosis

Debate: differences and similarities between tension-type headache and migraine.
Onan D, Younis S, Wellsgatnik WD, Farham F, Andruškevičius S, Abashidze A, Jusupova A, Romanenko Y, Grosu O, Moldokulova MZ, Mursalova U, Saidkhodjaeva S, Martelletti P, Ashina S
J Headache Pain 2023 Jul 21;24(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01614-0. PMID: 37474899Free PMC Article
Tension-type headache.
Ashina S, Mitsikostas DD, Lee MJ, Yamani N, Wang SJ, Messina R, Ashina H, Buse DC, Pozo-Rosich P, Jensen RH, Diener HC, Lipton RB
Nat Rev Dis Primers 2021 Mar 25;7(1):24. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00257-2. PMID: 33767185
Migraine and Tension-Type Headache: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Burch R
Med Clin North Am 2019 Mar;103(2):215-233. Epub 2018 Dec 3 doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.003. PMID: 30704678
Myofascial trigger points in migraine and tension-type headache.
Do TP, Heldarskard GF, Kolding LT, Hvedstrup J, Schytz HW
J Headache Pain 2018 Sep 10;19(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s10194-018-0913-8. PMID: 30203398Free PMC Article
Primary Headaches.
Mier RW, Dhadwal S
Dent Clin North Am 2018 Oct;62(4):611-628. Epub 2018 Aug 14 doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2018.06.006. PMID: 30189986

Therapy

Cervicogenic headache.
Jull G
Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2023 Aug;66:102787. Epub 2023 Jun 3 doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102787. PMID: 37301672
Physical Therapy in Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Repiso-Guardeño A, Moreno-Morales N, Armenta-Pendón MA, Rodríguez-Martínez MDC, Pino-Lozano R, Armenta-Peinado JA
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023 Mar 2;20(5) doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054466. PMID: 36901475Free PMC Article
Manual therapy in adults with tension-type headache: A systematic review.
Cumplido-Trasmonte C, Fernández-González P, Alguacil-Diego IM, Molina-Rueda F
Neurologia (Engl Ed) 2021 Sep;36(7):537-547. Epub 2020 Apr 7 doi: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2017.12.005. PMID: 34537167
The comparative effects of spinal manipulation, myofascial release and exercise in tension-type headache patients with neck pain: A randomized controlled trial.
Corum M, Aydin T, Medin Ceylan C, Kesiktas FN
Complement Ther Clin Pract 2021 May;43:101319. Epub 2021 Jan 24 doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101319. PMID: 33517104
Headache: Tension-Type Headache.
Scripter C
FP Essent 2018 Oct;473:17-20. PMID: 30346680

Prognosis

Current Understanding of the Pathophysiology and Approach to Tension-Type Headache.
Steel SJ, Robertson CE, Whealy MA
Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2021 Oct 2;21(10):56. doi: 10.1007/s11910-021-01138-7. PMID: 34599406
Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.
GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators
Lancet Neurol 2019 May;18(5):459-480. Epub 2019 Mar 14 doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30499-X. PMID: 30879893Free PMC Article
Primary headaches.
Onderwater GLJ, Van Dongen RM, Zielman R, Terwindt GM, Ferrari MD
Handb Clin Neurol 2017;146:267-284. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-804279-3.00016-2. PMID: 29110775
Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.
Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 Collaborators
Lancet 2015 Aug 22;386(9995):743-800. Epub 2015 Jun 7 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60692-4. PMID: 26063472Free PMC Article
Tension-type headache.
Speciali JG, Eckeli AL, Dach F
Expert Rev Neurother 2008 May;8(5):839-53. doi: 10.1586/14737175.8.5.839. PMID: 18457540

Clinical prediction guides

Neck pain and headache: Pathophysiology, treatments and future directions.
Al-Khazali HM, Krøll LS, Ashina H, Melo-Carrillo A, Burstein R, Amin FM, Ashina S
Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2023 Aug;66:102804. Epub 2023 Jun 16 doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102804. PMID: 37394323
Physical Therapy in Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Repiso-Guardeño A, Moreno-Morales N, Armenta-Pendón MA, Rodríguez-Martínez MDC, Pino-Lozano R, Armenta-Peinado JA
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023 Mar 2;20(5) doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054466. PMID: 36901475Free PMC Article
The comparative effects of spinal manipulation, myofascial release and exercise in tension-type headache patients with neck pain: A randomized controlled trial.
Corum M, Aydin T, Medin Ceylan C, Kesiktas FN
Complement Ther Clin Pract 2021 May;43:101319. Epub 2021 Jan 24 doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101319. PMID: 33517104
Tension-type headache and sleep.
Rains JC, Davis RE, Smitherman TA
Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2015;15(2):520. doi: 10.1007/s11910-014-0520-2. PMID: 25475495
Tension-type headache.
Speciali JG, Eckeli AL, Dach F
Expert Rev Neurother 2008 May;8(5):839-53. doi: 10.1586/14737175.8.5.839. PMID: 18457540

Recent systematic reviews

Physical Therapy in Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Repiso-Guardeño A, Moreno-Morales N, Armenta-Pendón MA, Rodríguez-Martínez MDC, Pino-Lozano R, Armenta-Peinado JA
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023 Mar 2;20(5) doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054466. PMID: 36901475Free PMC Article
Primary headache epidemiology in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Onofri A, Pensato U, Rosignoli C, Wells-Gatnik W, Stanyer E, Ornello R, Chen HZ, De Santis F, Torrente A, Mikulenka P, Monte G, Marschollek K, Waliszewska-Prosół M, Wiels W, Boucherie DM, Onan D, Farham F, Al-Hassany L, Sacco S; European Headache Federation School of Advanced Studies (EHF-SAS)
J Headache Pain 2023 Feb 14;24(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01541-0. PMID: 36782182Free PMC Article
Effectiveness of manual therapy in the treatment of cervicogenic headache: A systematic review.
Núñez-Cabaleiro P, Leirós-Rodríguez R
Headache 2022 Mar;62(3):271-283. Epub 2022 Mar 16 doi: 10.1111/head.14278. PMID: 35294051
Effects of Different Therapeutic Exercise Modalities on Migraine or Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with a Replicability Analysis.
Varangot-Reille C, Suso-Martí L, Romero-Palau M, Suárez-Pastor P, Cuenca-Martínez F
J Pain 2022 Jul;23(7):1099-1122. Epub 2021 Dec 18 doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.12.003. PMID: 34929374
Manual therapy in adults with tension-type headache: A systematic review.
Cumplido-Trasmonte C, Fernández-González P, Alguacil-Diego IM, Molina-Rueda F
Neurologia (Engl Ed) 2021 Sep;36(7):537-547. Epub 2020 Apr 7 doi: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2017.12.005. PMID: 34537167

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Curated

    • NICE, 2021
      UK NICE Guideline CG150, Headaches in over 12s: diagnosis and management, 2021

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • ClinVar
      Related medical variations
    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...