Effectiveness of Carotid Sinus Massage in Modified Trendelenburg Position for Acute Headache Episodes: A Pilot Study
Headaches significantly impact patients' quality of life, with tension-type headaches and migraines being among the most prevalent types. There is growing evidence suggesting that blood pressure regulation and baroreceptor activity play a role in headache pathophysiology. Carotid sinus massage (CSM), particularly when combined with the modified Trendelenburg position, may modulate autonomic nervous system activity to relieve headache symptoms. An initial open-label pilot study (n = 17) was completed, and the results were published in a preprint server for health sciences, the Medical Research Archive (medRxiv), demonstrating the feasibility, safety, and promising preliminary efficacy of CSM+T. Based on these findings, a follow-up randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-arm trial will further evaluate the efficacy of the treatment.
• Participants must be at least 16 years of age.
• Must have a diagnosis of one of the following, according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3):
‣ Migraine
⁃ Tension-type headache
⁃ Mixed headache
• The headache episode must have started within the past 24 hours.