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ABSTRACT
Background: The many varieties of migraine headaches and their associated neurological dysfunctions represent a significant source of pain and suffering to our society. For many, migraine headaches are a chronic source of pain and significantly impact one's quality of life. With the aim of reducing the impact of chronic neurological illness, a functional approach to neurorehabilitation has emerged as a paradigm shift within the context of neurological health care. This growing body of knowledge, related to assessing and optimizing the function of the nervous system, serves as the basis for seeking effective non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic neurological disease.
Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of pneumatic insufflation of the ear in alleviating migraine symptoms during an acute attack.
Design: Thirteen patients were recruited to test this experimental procedure. Some were initially given a sham treatment in order to confirm response/non-response to the procedure.
Results: The results indicate that nine subjects experienced rapid, complete or near-complete relief from their headache, three subjects experienced only moderate relief and one subject demonstrated no response. The implications of this novel therapy are vast, not only as a potential treatment option for migraine, but as validation of the use of specific afferent activation as a way to modulate neurological functionality. This is the first instance within the neurological literature that ear insufflation has been documented as an effective intervention in the elimination of migraine symptomatology.
Keywords: Migraine, Headache, Trigeminal Nerve, Auriculotemporal Nerve, Ear Insufflation, Neurorehabilitation, Clinical Application
INTRODUCTION
The potential degree of human suffering and effects on quality of life cannot be overstated in the case of chronic migraine. This affliction can negatively impact nearly every facet of one's family, home and work life, relationships, school, leisure and social time. Beyond the individual burden of this illness is the significant strain which falls upon the healthcare delivery system, employers and our society at large related to costs associated with chronic migraine, both direct and indirect [1].
The variants of migraine headaches and their concomitant symptoms such as nausea, aura, photophobia, dysesthesias and dysequilibrium represent a significant burden to the population at large. Epidemiological studies indicate that approximately 18% of the United States' female population, and...