Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study
<i>Background and objectives:</i> Chronic tension-type headache (TTH) is the type of headache with the highest prevalence. The involvement of musculoskeletal structures in TTH is supported by evidence in the scientific literature. Among these, deep cervical muscle strength appears to be...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/7/917 |
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| author | Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla Ángel Gónzalez-de-la-Flor Daniel Martín-Vera Diego Domínguez-Balmaseda José Ángel del-Blanco-Muñiz |
| author_facet | Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla Ángel Gónzalez-de-la-Flor Daniel Martín-Vera Diego Domínguez-Balmaseda José Ángel del-Blanco-Muñiz |
| author_sort | Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and objectives:</i> Chronic tension-type headache (TTH) is the type of headache with the highest prevalence. The involvement of musculoskeletal structures in TTH is supported by evidence in the scientific literature. Among these, deep cervical muscle strength appears to be related to the function of the cervical spine and the clinical characteristics of TTH. This study aimed to correlate anatomical, functional, and psychological variables in patients with TTH. <i>Materials and methods:</i> An observational descriptive study was carried out with 22 participants diagnosed with TTH for at least six months. The characteristics of headaches, including ultrasound-based deep neck flexor and extensor muscle thickness, range of motion (ROM), and pressure pain threshold (PPT), were recorded. We also conducted the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ) and the Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT). <i>Results:</i> Moderate–large negative correlations were found between the PVAQ and the muscle thickness of right deep flexors contracted (r = −0.52; <i>p</i> = 0.01), left multifidus contracted (r = −0.44; <i>p</i> = 0.04), right multifidus at rest (r = −0.48; <i>p</i> = 0.02), and right multifidus contracted (r = −0.45; <i>p</i> = 0.04). Moderate–large positive correlations were found between the CCFT score and the left cervical rotation ROM (r = 0.53; <i>p</i> = 0.01), right cervical rotation ROM (r = 0.48; <i>p</i> = 0.03), muscle thickness of left multifidus contracted (r = 0.50; <i>p</i> = 0.02), and muscle thickness of right multifidus at rest (r = 0.51; <i>p</i> = 0.02). The muscle thickness of the contracted right deep cervical flexors showed a moderate negative correlation with headache intensity (r = −0.464; <i>p</i> = 0.03). No correlations were found between PPT and the rest of the variables analyzed. <i>Conclusions:</i> In patients with TTH, a higher thickness of deep cervical muscles was associated with higher ROM and higher scores in the CCFT. In turn, the thickness of deep cervical muscles showed negative correlations with pain hypervigilance and headache intensity. These results contribute to a better understanding of the physical and psychosocial factors contributing to the development of TTH, which is useful for implementing appropriate prevention and treatment measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:14:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5667994c564e4569bb083fc39e34bcaf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:14:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-5667994c564e4569bb083fc39e34bcaf2023-12-03T11:54:48ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442022-07-0158791710.3390/medicina58070917Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational StudyGuillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla0Ángel Gónzalez-de-la-Flor1Daniel Martín-Vera2Diego Domínguez-Balmaseda3José Ángel del-Blanco-Muñiz4Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain<i>Background and objectives:</i> Chronic tension-type headache (TTH) is the type of headache with the highest prevalence. The involvement of musculoskeletal structures in TTH is supported by evidence in the scientific literature. Among these, deep cervical muscle strength appears to be related to the function of the cervical spine and the clinical characteristics of TTH. This study aimed to correlate anatomical, functional, and psychological variables in patients with TTH. <i>Materials and methods:</i> An observational descriptive study was carried out with 22 participants diagnosed with TTH for at least six months. The characteristics of headaches, including ultrasound-based deep neck flexor and extensor muscle thickness, range of motion (ROM), and pressure pain threshold (PPT), were recorded. We also conducted the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ) and the Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT). <i>Results:</i> Moderate–large negative correlations were found between the PVAQ and the muscle thickness of right deep flexors contracted (r = −0.52; <i>p</i> = 0.01), left multifidus contracted (r = −0.44; <i>p</i> = 0.04), right multifidus at rest (r = −0.48; <i>p</i> = 0.02), and right multifidus contracted (r = −0.45; <i>p</i> = 0.04). Moderate–large positive correlations were found between the CCFT score and the left cervical rotation ROM (r = 0.53; <i>p</i> = 0.01), right cervical rotation ROM (r = 0.48; <i>p</i> = 0.03), muscle thickness of left multifidus contracted (r = 0.50; <i>p</i> = 0.02), and muscle thickness of right multifidus at rest (r = 0.51; <i>p</i> = 0.02). The muscle thickness of the contracted right deep cervical flexors showed a moderate negative correlation with headache intensity (r = −0.464; <i>p</i> = 0.03). No correlations were found between PPT and the rest of the variables analyzed. <i>Conclusions:</i> In patients with TTH, a higher thickness of deep cervical muscles was associated with higher ROM and higher scores in the CCFT. In turn, the thickness of deep cervical muscles showed negative correlations with pain hypervigilance and headache intensity. These results contribute to a better understanding of the physical and psychosocial factors contributing to the development of TTH, which is useful for implementing appropriate prevention and treatment measures.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/7/917tension-type headachedeep cervical musclesmuscle thicknesspain vigilance |
| spellingShingle | Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla Ángel Gónzalez-de-la-Flor Daniel Martín-Vera Diego Domínguez-Balmaseda José Ángel del-Blanco-Muñiz Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study Medicina tension-type headache deep cervical muscles muscle thickness pain vigilance |
| title | Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study |
| title_full | Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study |
| title_short | Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study |
| title_sort | deep cervical muscles and functionality in patients with chronic tension type headache an observational study |
| topic | tension-type headache deep cervical muscles muscle thickness pain vigilance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/7/917 |
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