Women with migraine presents similar altered performance in the craniocervical flexion test than women with chronic nonspecific neck pain: An observational study

Abstract

Background: Although patients with migraine show cervical muscle impairments previous studies investigating motor performance have not characterized the sample of patients with migraine according to the presence/absence of neck pain complaints.

Objective: To verify if there are differences in the clinical and muscular performance of the superficial neck flexors and extensors during Craniocervical Flexion Test in women with migraine, considering the presence or absence of concomitant symptoms of neck pain.

Methods: The cranio-cervical flexion test performance was assessed by its clinical stage test and by the surface electromyographic activity of the sternocleidomastoid, anterior scalene muscles upper trapezius and splenius capitis. It was assessed in 25 women with migraine without neck pain, 25 women with migraine and neck pain, 25 women with chronic neck pain and 25 pain-free control women.

Results: Poorer performance of the cervical muscles was found during the execution of the cranio-cervical flexion test, in addition to higher muscle activity, especially in the sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, and upper trapezius muscles in the neck pain, migraine without neck pain, and migraine with neck pain groups in comparison with the results obtained for healthy women in the control group. No difference was observed between the groups of women experiencing pain. Analysis of the extensor/flexor muscle electromyographic ratio showed that there was no difference between the groups.

Conclusion: Poor cervical muscle performance was observed in both women with chronic nonspecific neck pain and women with migraine regardless of the presence of neck pain.

Keywords: Electromyography; Headache; Migraine disorders; Neck pain.