Cervical mobility in women with migraine.
OBJECTIVE
To contrast the cervical range of motion (CROM) in women with episodic migraine (EM), transformed migraine (TM), and controls without migraine headaches.


BACKGROUND
Migraineurs often complain about neck pain. Furthermore, neck problems can worsen the headaches in individuals with migraine. Individuals with neck pain usually have reduced CROM. Nonetheless, studies assessing the CROM in migraineurs are scarce.


METHODS
Our sample was selected in an outpatient headache clinic, and consisted of 45 women aged 20-54 years old, 15 per group. Cervical mobility was evaluated in movements of flexion, extension, right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion, right rotation, and left rotation using the CROM technique, and was contrasted among the groups. Migraine clinical patterns were also evaluated (frequency, duration of migraine, pain in the moment of evaluation, pain in movement, and pain localization) as a function of CROM.


RESULTS
Compared with controls, individuals with TM had numerically inferior CROM in all parameters, and significant reduction in 3 of them: extension (59.3 vs 68.1, P = .02), left lateral flexion (44.5 vs 49.1, P = .03), and right rotation (62.2 vs 69.6, P = .02). Compared with individuals with migraine, the TM group presented significantly reduced mobility only for extension (59.3 vs 68.4, P = .02). Migraineurs also had numerically inferior ROM, contrasted to controls, in 5 of the 6 parameters, although significance was seen just for right rotation (60.8 vs 68.6 P < .01). There was no correlation between cervical mobility and migraine parameters. The CROM was not reduced for the symptomatic side of migraine, in cases of unilateral pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrasted to controls, individuals with episodic and TM have decreased cervical range of motion.
Bevilaqua-Grossi
Debora
D
Biomechanics Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Bandeiranteo, 3900 Monte Alegre, CEP 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pegoretti
Katia S
KS
Goncalves
Maria C
MC
Speciali
José G
JG
Bordini
Carlos A
CA
Bigal
Marcelo E
ME
D000328:Adult; D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000503:physiopathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014275:Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus / Q000503:physiopathology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000503:physiopathology