Comparison of upper posterior neck muscles strength in healthy and chronic tension headache women

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 1. Professor of Physiotheraphy Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 2. Student research committee.MSc of Physiotheraphy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 3. Associate Professor of Neurology ,Faculty of Medical Sciences , Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran.

4 4. Student research committee.PHD of Physiotheraphy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.

5 5. Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common type of headache in different societies. TTH is a prototypical headache in which myofascial pain of neck muscles can play an important etiological role. Weakness of upper posterior muscles of neck is a common accompaniment of myofascial pain in this region. Thus the purpose of this study was to compare the strength of upper posterior neck muscles in women with chronic tension headache and healthy women.
Materials and Methods: The strength of superior-posterior neck muscles in 33 women (16 chronic tension headache and 17 healthy individuals) were examined by The Power meter. An independent t-test was used to analyze the data and compare the groups.
Results: Results showed a significant difference between women with chronic tension headache and healthy ones (p=0.021). The results also showed inverse relationship between intensity of pain and the strength. (r=-0.65، p=0.006)
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, women with chronic tension headache had lower posterior upper cervical muscles strength than healthy controls. These results may reflect a disturbance in the upper posterior neck muscles musculoskeletal system in the patients which may be primary to TTH or secondary and as a result of TTH. Further studies are required to extend our knowledge in this area.

Keywords

References

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The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 4, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
September and October 2015
Pages 57-64

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 November 2014
  • Revise Date: 16 February 2015
  • Accept Date: 05 April 2015
  • First Publish Date: 23 September 2015

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