A Clinical Observation on Electrophysiology in Headache Patients With Myofascial Trigger Points

Muscle Activity of Pericranial Muscles in Patients With Episodic or Chronic Headache vs Asymptomatic Controls: a Cross-sectional Study

Through an observational, cross-sectional study, muscle activity was compared among 21 subjects with episodic headache, 17 subjects with chronic headache and 17 age-matched healthy controls. Muscle activity was bilaterally tested with needle electromyography at rest status, targeting at myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the frontal, temporal, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), splenius capitis, splenius cervicis and trapezius of each subject. Headache characteristics (intensity, frequency and duration), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and Digital Span (DS) scales were secondary outcomes. The correlation between muscle activity and headache characteristics was also analyzed.

This study provides preliminary evidence of the relationship between muscle and the chronicity of headache.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Have at least one onset of headache in the last week,
2. Aged between 18-65 years,
3. No special treatment or invasive test on pericranial muscles in the last month, and no painkillers or muscle relaxants in the last week.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of surgery, trauma, tumor and spinal disease affecting the head and neck,
2. Being unable to cooperate with inspection and questionnaires for any reason (severe systemic disease, bleeder, communication barriers and so on),
3. People with definite mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.