Clinical Research Directory

Pericranial and General Sensitivity in Patients With Primary Headache

Primary headaches such as migraine and tension type headache are among the most common neurological disorders and frequently cause significant disability and reduced quality of life. Increasing evidence suggests that these headaches may share biological mechanisms with temporomandibular disorders, a group of conditions affecting the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint. Both conditions are also often associated with other chronic pain disorders, suggesting that altered pain processing and sensitization of the nervous system may play an important role in their development. Despite these observations, few studies have simultaneously evaluated local muscle tenderness around the head and neck, generalized pain sensitivity in other parts of the body, and the presence of additional chronic pain conditions in patients with primary headaches. Understanding how these factors interact may help clarify why some patients develop more severe or persistent headache disorders and may improve future diagnostic and treatment strategies. The aim of this multicenter observational study is to compare patients with primary headaches to healthy individuals without headaches. The study will assess sensitivity of muscles around the head and neck, general pain sensitivity at distant body sites, the presence of temporomandibular disorders, and the number of other chronic pain conditions. Participants will also complete questionnaires about pain symptoms and related health conditions. Participants will undergo a clinical examination performed by trained clinicians, including manual assessment of tenderness in head and neck muscles and measurement of pressure pain thresholds using a handheld device. Additional evaluations will include standardized questionnaires about pain intensity, pain distribution, and symptoms related to central sensitization. Cervical motor and sensorimotor function will also be evaluated using a wearable sensor system. By comparing individuals with primary headaches and healthy controls, the study aims to better understand the relationship between headache disorders, jaw related pain conditions, and general pain sensitivity. The results may contribute to improved clinical assessment and a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying headache and related pain disorders.

Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Tension Headache in Post-Pubertal Females

This study will be carried out to evaluate the effect of laser acupuncture on tension headache in post-pubertal females.

nVNS for the Prevention and Treatment of Primary Headache

This study is a single-center, single-arm study. All subjects will receive the same treatment. Children and adolescents (7-20 years old) with migraine who met the inclusion criteria will be enrolled as subjects in the experimental group, and the changes in headache scores before and after the intervention will be compared. The intervention method is as follows: ictal intervention, in which subjects will be evaluated for headache improvement after a short intervention during an acute exacerbation. By wearing a vagus stimulator, the stimulating electrode will be located in the concha region rich in vagus nerve fiber endings, and the appropriate stimulation intensity will be adjusted for stimulation. Therefore, this study will verify the effect of nVNS on the acute treatment of primary headache in children and adolescents. Based on the electrocardiogram and electromyography indicators during the intervention process of nVNS, an objective evaluation system for the improvement of headache by nVNS is established, and the role of stimulation parameters on the effect is further explored to realize the optimization of parameters.

0.5% Bupivacaine Lower Cervical Intramuscular Injection vs IV Medications for Headache Treatment

Headache is a frequent chief complaint among patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED), accounting for 2.1 million visits annually in the United States. Often, individuals resort to ED care only after over-the-counter or home remedies have failed, leading to the predominant use of intravenous (IV) medications in the ED, including NSAIDs, triptans, neuroleptics, antiepileptics, and dopaminergic antagonists. Unfortunately, these pharmacologic treatments frequently induce side effects such as cognitive impairment, extrapyramidal reactions, and the potential for medication dependency. In the ED, patients frequently require concurrent administration of multiple systemic medications to achieve satisfactory pain relief, thereby elevating the risk associated with medication use. Despite these medication regimens, a significant portion of patients continue to experience inadequate pain relief. Consequently, the search for an optimal headache therapy-characterized by rapid and effective pain relief, long lasting results, minimal side effects, and allows for rapid ED patient turnover-continues to be a popular area of research in emergency medicine. The investigators plan to evaluate the use of 0.5% bupivacaine cervical IM injection at the c6-7 location for the treatment of non traumatic headaches using a non-inferiority design, randomized, prospective, open-label, controlled trial comparing it to physicians choice of intravenous medications in treatment of headache in the Emergency Department at North Florida Hospital.

Muscle Function and Tenderness Differences in Headache Patients

This cross-sectional study aims to compare muscle function of the neck, and shoulder and muscle tenderness in three groups of headache patients: migraine, tension-type headache, and posttraumatic headache. The study will evaluate muscle tenderness through the Total Tenderness Score (TTS) and muscle function through maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and rate of force development (RFD). Additionally, functional assessments such as the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test (CCFT) and Ito Test will be performed.

Quest to Analyze One Thousand Humans Meditating

This study will be focused on assessing the molecular, physiological, and emotional correlates of an intensive meditation experience in the context of a retreat setting in a large 2000 plus-person cohort comprised of healthy and clinical populations.