Efficacy of regular sauna bathing for chronic tension-type headache: a randomized controlled study
Kanji G, Weatherall M, Peter R, Purdie G, Page R
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) · 19 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2015-01-30 · J Altern Complement Med · vol. 21 · issue 2 · pp. 103–109
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
- Cited
- 29 citations · more than 91% of similar papers · 3.0× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 29 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Migraine and Headache Studies · Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements
- Keywords
- Medicine, Bathing, Physical therapy, Confidence interval, Randomized controlled trial, Depression (economics), Visual analogue scale, Internal medicine
- MeSH
- humans, chronic disease, pain measurement, steam bath, adult, middle aged, female, male, tension-type headache
5 authors
From NZ
- Giresh KanjiWellington Hospital
- Mark W WeatherallUniversity of Otago
- Raja PeterMassey University
- Gordon PurdieUniversity of Otago
- Rachel Page · correspondingMassey University
Abstract
Objective
Chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is a chronic syndrome characterized by frequent headache occurring more than 15 days per month. The intensity and duration of headache pain can be very distressing and disabling on an individuals' well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of sauna bathing as a new method of treatment for reducing pain in patients with CTTH.
Methods
Thirty-seven people who fulfilled the International Headache Society criteria for CTTH were randomly assigned into two groups. The control group (n=20) received advice and education while the intervention group (n=17) received the same advice and attended a sauna regularly for 8 weeks. Reductions in subjective pain were determined using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS). Disturbance in sleep, depression as assessed by Beckman Disability Index (BDI), and Headache Disability Index (HDI) were measured.
Results
Mean change in headache intensity significantly differed between the sauna and control group by 1.27 (95% confidence interval, 0.48-2.07; F=10.17; df=1, 117; p=0.002). There was no statistically significant change in duration of headache or improvement in sleep, depression, or HDI between the sauna and control groups.
Conclusion
Regular sauna bathing is a simple, self-directed treatment that is effective for reducing headache pain intensity in CTTH.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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