Cervical muscle weakness may be linked with episodic migraine and concurrent neck pain, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
The researchers wrote that this study aimed “to verify if migraine frequency or migraine-associated neck pain were associated with a reduction of normalized force and altered electromyographic activity during maximal cervical muscle isometric contractions. Additionally, it aimed to assess the correlation of normalized isometric force with years with migraine, headache frequency, headache intensity, migraine-related disability, and severity of cutaneous allodynia.”
The study consisted of 71 women with migraines. Forty and 31 patients had episodic and chronic migraines, respectively. In this group, 42 patients reported neck pain. The migraine cohort was compared with a control group of 32 women without headache.
The investigators found that women with episodic migraine presented lower normalized isometric force in extension, flexion, and right and left lateral flexions compared with the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, the researchers observed that women with migraine and neck pain exhibited less cervical extension and right/left lateral flexions normalized isometric force compared with controls (P<0.05).
In conclusion, the researchers wrote that “cervical muscle weakness may be associated with episodic migraine and neck pain concurrent with migraine attacks without altered antagonist activity. Additionally, it may also be related to the severity of cutaneous allodynia.”
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34326451/
Keywords: isometric contractions, migraine, cervical muscle weakness
