Could a smartphone app and two sensors prevent tension headaches?
NCT ID NCT07136740
First seen Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a home-based biofeedback device that uses a smartphone app and two wireless sensors—one on the finger and one on the shoulder—to help adults with frequent or chronic tension-type headaches. Participants use the device regularly to learn to control muscle tension and other body signals, aiming to prevent headaches. The trial compares the device to a wait-list control group to see if it safely reduces headache burden.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cerebri-TTH biofeedback device, a home-based smartphone app with two wireless sensors measuring heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and muscle tension
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this device could offer a drug-free, home-based option to reduce headache frequency and severity for people with tension-type headaches.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively early-stage study, and the placebo effect is strong in headache trials. The device may not prove better than waiting or a sham treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 300 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Oct 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age inclusive or older, at the time of signing the informed consent. * A diagnosis of TTH according to the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition (ICHD-3) * History of at least 6 days or more with TTH per 28-day period in the 3 months prior to screening (as recalled by the subject). * Frequency of at least 6 days or more with TTH per 28-day period, confirmed by daily diary entries in the baseline period. * At least three months of experience with smartphone and access to an iOS or Android phone at home. * Capability of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol. * Onset of TTH (and migraine, if present) before the age of 50 years. * The onset of TTH should be present for at least 1 year prior to inclusion. Exclusion Criteria: * Subject does not master a Scandinavian language at a level sufficient to fully understand the written and verbal study information. * Subject is unable to differentiate TTH from other concomitant headaches. * A history of more than 1 migraine attack per month on average in the last year, as recalled by the patient. * Frequency of more than 1 migraine attack per month during the baseline period, as confirmed by daily diary entries. * Subjects diagnosed with trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias and cranial neuralgias. * Subjects with secondary headache conditions with the exception of medication overuse headache (MOH) as defined in the ICHD-3 criteria that undergo a successful 8 weeks acute medication stop, and does not overuse medication in the following 28 day period. * Use of concurrent TTH preventive medication, with the exception of stable dose (≥3 months or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) monotherapy of TTH preventive medication. * Use of prophylactic medication with known prophylactic effect on other headache disorders, whatever the indication, with the exception of stable dose (≥3 months or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) monotherapy of any preventive medication. * Subjects taking opioids (\>3 days per month) or barbiturates at the time of screening. * Reduced sensibility, hearing or vision to a degree that impairs proper use of the app. * Patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders with psychotic or other symptoms making compliance with the study protocol difficult, at the discretion of the investigator. * Patients exhibiting a high degree of comorbidity and/or frailty associated with reduced life expectancy or high likelihood of hospitalization, at the discretion of the investigator. * Use of non-pharmacological preventive treatment, that in the opinion of the investigator is likely to interfere with the evaluation of the biofeedback treatment strategy under investigation. Stable non-pharmacological treatments for other indications than TTH that is not likely to interfere, is allowed if it is kept unaltered during study participation. * Previous or current use of biofeedback equipment. * Other pain conditions, not intended to be treated in this study, that in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with study procedures, accurate pain reporting, and/or confound evaluation of study endpoints * High probability neurological deterioration due to other medical conditions, that in the opinion of the investigator may confound outcome assessment. * Have within 6 months of enrolment a significant untreated addiction to dependency-producing medications, alcohol, or illicit drugs. * Abnormal pain behaviour, inappropriate medication-use and/or unresolved psychiatric illness, that in the opinion of the investigator are significant enough to impact perception of pain, compliance with intervention and/or ability to evaluate treatment outcome. * Subject is currently participating or planning to participate in another clinical investigation. * Subject who is unlikely to follow Clinical Investigation Plan or where treatment seems futile in the opinion of the Investigator or have demonstrated an inability to sufficiently adhere to headache diary entries (\<70%). This study excludes patients with more than 1 migraine attack per month. A migraine attack is defined according to ICHD-3 criteria as attacks of unilateral, pulsating, moderate or severe headache lasting 4-72 hours that is aggravated by physical activity, associated with nausea and/or photophobia and phonophobia, and, in some cases, preceded by unilateral, fully-reversible central nervous system symptoms.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Namsos Hospital
RECRUITINGNamsos, 7800, Norway
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