An interventional study of Multimodal Physiotherapy for Tension-Type Headache and Guided Meditation Using Insight Timer App in Tension-Type Headache, Chronic Tension-type Headache and Frequent Episodic Tension-Type Headache, sponsored by Universidad de Granada. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-11.
Sponsored by Universidad de Granada · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a multimodal physiotherapy program and guided meditation using a mobile app can help reduce headache pain and improve quality of life in adults with frequent or chronic tension-type headache. The study analyzes the effects of physical and psychological interventions applied both separately and in combination, so that the combined treatment addresses tension-type headache as a multifactorial condition influenced by biopsychophysiological factors, integrating physical and psychological strategies to improve participants' overall well-being.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
The study will compare:
Participants will:
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal physiotherapy program and guided meditation delivered via a mobile application in adults with frequent or chronic tension-type headache (TTH).
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) multimodal physiotherapy, (2) guided meditation using a mobile application, or (3) a combined intervention including both treatments.
The physiotherapy intervention will consist of weekly sessions for four weeks, including manual therapy, dry needling, soft tissue techniques, and cervical mobilization. The meditation intervention will involve daily guided sessions of approximately 5-7 minutes using the Insight Timer mobile application.
Primary and secondary outcomes will include headache intensity, frequency and duration, disability, emotional state, sleep quality, mindfulness, and global perceived improvement. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and at 3-month follow-up (and at 6 months if feasible).
This study aims to provide evidence on the effectiveness of a multimodal, non-pharmacological approach addressing both physical and psychological components of TTH.
143 studies on the registry are indexed under Tension-Type Headache; 42 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 78 is above the median of 60 across 108 interventional studies indexed under Tension-Type Headache.
Browse Tension-Type Headache studies →Universidad de Granada is the lead sponsor of 246 studies on the registry; 43 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in this group will receive a multimodal physiotherapy program once a week for four weeks. Each session includes thoracic (T4-T7) and cervicothoracic (C7-T1) manipulation, suboccipital inhibition, deep dry needling of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles, specific massage (temporal, paracervical, and SCM muscles), and passive cervical mobilization in rotation and lateral flexion within a pain-free range.
Other: Multimodal Physiotherapy for Tension-Type Headache
Participants in this group will use the Insight Timer mobile application to perform daily guided meditation sessions lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, focused on mindfulness, stress reduction, and sleep improvement. Only free, Spanish-language content from the app will be used. The program will last four weeks.
Behavioral: Guided Meditation Using Insight Timer App
Participants in this group will receive both interventions: one weekly session of multimodal physiotherapy for four weeks and daily guided meditation using the Insight Timer app (approximately 5-7 minutes per day).
Other: Multimodal Physiotherapy for Tension-Type Headache · Behavioral: Guided Meditation Using Insight Timer App
Participants in this group will receive a multimodal physiotherapy program once a week for four weeks. Each session includes thoracic (T4-T7) and cervicothoracic (C7-T1) manipulation, suboccipital inhibition, deep dry needling of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles, specific massage (temporal, paracervical, and SCM muscles), and passive cervical mobilization in rotation and lateral flexion within a pain-free range. All procedures will be performed by an experienced physiotherapist.
Also known as: Physiotherapy Multimodal Program, Manual Therapy plus Dry Needling
Participants in this group will use the Insight Timer mobile application to perform daily guided meditation sessions of approximately 5-7 minutes for four weeks. All sessions will use free Spanish-language content focused on mindfulness, stress reduction, and sleep improvement. Participants will receive written instructions to ensure adherence.
Also known as: Mobile Mindfulness Meditation, Digital Mindfulness Training
Change in headache pain intensity
Headache pain intensity will be assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS, 0-10), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Participants will record NPRS scores for each headache episode in a structured headache diary throughout the study period (baseline, intervention, and follow-up). Weekly mean NPRS values will be calculated for statistical analysis.
Time frame: Pre-allocation assessment, Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Change in headache frequency
Headache frequency will be assessed as the number of days per week with headache, derived from the structured headache diary completed by participants throughout the study period. A headache day will be defined as any day in which the participant reports the presence of headache, regardless of intensity or duration.
Time frame: Pre-allocation assessment, Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Change in mean headache duration per episode
Headache duration will be assessed as the average number of hours per headache episode, derived from the structured headache diary completed by participants throughout the study period. A headache episode will be defined as a continuous period of headache separated by at least 24 hours without pain. The mean duration per episode will be calculated for analysis.
Time frame: Pre-allocation assessment, Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Headache Disability Inventory (HDI)
Headache-related disability will be assessed using the Headache Disability Inventory (HDI), which includes total and subscale scores (emotional and functional). Higher scores indicate greater headache-related disability.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Headache Impact Test (HIT-6)
Headache impact will be assessed using the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), a validated questionnaire that measures the impact of headache on daily functioning and quality of life. Scores range from 36 to 78, with higher scores indicating greater impact.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), a validated self-report questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)
Perceived stress will be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), a validated self-report questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stress.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-39)
Mindfulness will be assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-39), a validated self-report instrument that evaluates five dimensions of mindfulness. Total and subscale scores will be analyzed, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mindfulness.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Quality of Life (SF-36)
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), a validated questionnaire that evaluates eight domains of perceived health. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better perceived health status.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a validated self-report questionnaire that evaluates sleep quality over the past month. The global score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher values indicating poorer sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Insomnia severity will be assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a validated self-report questionnaire that evaluates the nature, severity, and impact of insomnia. The total score ranges from 0 to 28, with higher values indicating greater insomnia severity.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Number of active and latent myofascial trigger points (TrPs)
The number of active and latent myofascial trigger points will be assessed bilaterally in the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, temporalis, masseter, suboccipital, and splenius capitis muscles, following established diagnostic criteria. Trigger points will be classified as active if they reproduce the participant's usual pain pattern or latent if not recognized as familiar. The total number of trigger points will be recorded for analysis. Assessments will be performed by the principal investigator following standardized and predefined procedures. Blinding is not feasible due to the study design.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPT) using algometry
Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) will be measured bilaterally at one trigeminal point (temporal muscle), one extratrigeminal point (C5-C6 zygapophyseal joint), and two remote points (second metacarpal and tibialis anterior) using a calibrated electronic algometer. The pressure at which the sensation changes from pressure to pain will be recorded. Three measurements will be taken at each point, and the mean value will be used for analysis. Assessments will be performed by the principal investigator following standardized and predefined procedures. Blinding is not feasible due to the study design.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Cervical Range of Motion (CROM device)
Active cervical range of motion (CROM) will be assessed using the CROM device (Performance Attainment Associates, MN, USA), which measures flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation in both the global and upper cervical spine. Two measurements will be taken for each movement, and the mean value will be used for analysis. Assessments will be performed by the principal investigator following standardized and predefined procedures. Blinding is not feasible due to the study design.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I)
Global perceived improvement will be assessed using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), a 7-point Likert scale that evaluates the participant's perception of overall change after the intervention. Scores range from 1 (very much improved) to 7 (very much worse).
Time frame: Week 4 (post-treatment), Week 12 (3-month follow-up), Week 24 (6-month follow-up)
Expectation of improvement (Likert 1-10)
Expectation of improvement will be assessed before treatment using a single 10-point Likert scale. Participants will rate the question: "How much do you think this treatment will help your headache?", where 1 indicates "not at all" and 10 indicates "very much". This variable will be analyzed as a potential covariate or predictor of treatment response.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0)
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared with other researchers. All data will be anonymized and handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679) and Spanish Organic Law 3/2018 on Data Protection. Only aggregated and de-identified results will be published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at scientific conferences. No transfer of raw data to third parties is planned, and data access will remain restricted to the research team at the University of Granada under the supervision of the local Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of Andalusia.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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