Cervical muscle parameters and allodynia in migraine and cervical pain—A controlled study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundNeck pain is common among individuals with migraine, but there is a lack of information of how this comorbidity can be associated with cervical muscle function. This controlled cross‐sectional study aimed to compare cervical muscle function, activity, and sensitization in women with migraine, neck pain, both, and neither.MethodsThis study included women, between 18 and 55 years old, with either episodic migraine with or without aura, without any concomitant headache diagnosis; chronic neck pain, with at least moderate intensity and mild disability; or neither headache nor neck pain. Pain pressure threshold, allodynia, muscle strength, and endurance and cervical muscles activity were evaluated.ResultsOne hundred subjects, with mean age of 30.4 years old, were stratified by diagnosis (n = 25 per group) and by self‐reported pain during tests. Lower endurance during flexion was observed for migraine and neck pain (34s) relative to neck pain alone (45s), migraine (40s), and controls (58s) (p = 0.04). For extensor endurance, means were 142s, 166s, 215s, and 270s, respectively (p < 0.001). Endurance times were impacted by the presence of test‐induced pain decreasing about 40%–53% of the performance. Diagnostic groups did not differ significantly in strength (p > 0.05), but all pain groups presented significantly higher proportion of test‐induced pain, lower muscle activity during the maximal isometric voluntary contractions, and lower pressure pain thresholds.ConclusionPatients with migraine, chronic neck pain, and the association of both present altered cervical muscle function and activity. Also, test‐induced pain impacts significantly on neck muscles endurance.SignificanceThe diagnosis of migraine and chronic neck pain is associated with altered function and activity of the cervical muscles. However, the test‐induced pain had an important contribution to worse cervical muscle endurance. This suggests that the therapeutic approach should focus on de‐sensitization of the trigeminal–cervical complex when dealing with the comorbidity of migraine and cervical pain.