Does research support the efficacy of massage therapy for headaches?

A small number of studies have looked at massage for headaches, and the results include:

A 2011 systematic review of two studies concluded that massage therapy might be equally effective as propranolol and topiramate in the prophylactic management of migraine.

A 2016 randomized controlled trial evaluated 2 types of massage (lymphatic drainage and traditional massage), once a week for 8 weeks, in patients with migraine and found the frequency of migraines decreased in both groups.

Healthcare continues evolving to less-invasive, natural, and drug-free methods, placing massage therapy as part of your complementary and alternative healthcare choice.

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