This study explored the efficacy of a thermal
biofeedback treatment package as an intervention with children with
tension-type headaches. In a within-subject, time-lagged, multiple baseline design, five children, aged 8 to 14 years, were assigned to baselines of varying lengths prior to receiving treatment. Treatment was introduced sequentially across subjects and involved six thermal
biofeedback treatment visits. Parents were also given guidelines for how best to encourage children to independently use the
biofeedback skills. Data confirm that the participants learned the handwarming skill, practiced the skill on a regular basis during treatment, and independently used the skills to manage their
pain. All participants demonstrated clinically significant reductions in one or more
headache parameters (frequency, duration, intensity) following treatment. At 6-month follow-up, four of the five participants were
headache-free. Although the thermal
biofeedback treatment package was generally effective for these children with
tension-type headaches, the specific type of
headache experienced by each child appeared to influence the specific response to treatment. In addition, no single measure of
headache activity was the best
indicator of response to treatment. The efficacy of the thermal
biofeedback treatment package is supported as an alternative treatment for children suffering from
tension-type headaches.