Tension-type headache occurs frequently in children and adolescents. Medication and relaxation training are the most common modes of treatment today. Acupuncture has been reported to give pain reduction in adults; however, there is no documentation on the effect of acupuncture in children. AIM: The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the effect of acupuncture and relaxation training in children and adolescents with tension-type headache and (2) through a power-analysis determine the sample size needed to detect statistically significant differences in pain intensity between the two treatment forms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty children and adolescents in the age range 11 to 19 years were included in the study. The patients were randomised into two groups: one group received acupuncture and the other relaxation training. Subjective as well as clinical variables were part of the evaluation before and after treatment. RESULTS: The results showed that a majority of the patients responded positively in their subjective evaluation of the treatment in both groups; however, in the group receiving relaxation training, a more pronounced improvement was found. No significant differences were found between the groups in reduced pain intensity, headache frequency, or medicine consumption after treatment. No negative side effects were registered. The power analysis showed that 97 patients would be needed in each group to detect statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in pain intesity between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The study found that a majority of the patients reported a subjectively improvement after acupuncture or relaxation training. A sample size of 97 subjects in each group are needed to detect statistical significant differences in pain intensity between the groups.

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