title: Balance disorders in headache patients: evaluation by computerized static stabilometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of equilibrium disturbances in headache patients, during the interictal period, by computerized static stabilometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven patients were studied: 35 with migraine without aura (MwoA), 12 with tension-type headache (TTH) in the episodic form (ETTH) + MwoA, and 20 with only TTH [10 ETTH + 10 chronic (CTTH)]. The stabilometric parameters considered were: statokinesigram length (L) and surface (S) in open (EO) and closed (EC) eyes conditions with/without occlusal bite, EC with head retroflexion (ECR), and optokinetic stimulation (OKN).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alteration of at least one of the stabilometric parameters was observed in 45 patients (67.2%): 21 MwoA, 8 ETTH + MwoA, and 16 TTH (8 ETTH + 8 CTTH).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In TTH patients (ETTH, CTTH, ETTH + MwoA), the stabilometric findings show a proprioceptive alteration induced by cervicofacial muscle contraction, which was peripheral in origin. In MwoA patients the alterations appear under OKN and support a control impairment in involuntary oculomotility of central origin.
authors.affiliation: Headache Center - Department of Neuroscience, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. headache@unipg.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarchielli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capocchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faralli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Altissimi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000503:physiopathology