Associations Between Neck Muscle Fatigue, Joint Position Sense, and Headache in Cervicogenic Headache

Investigating Associations Between Neck Flexor Muscle Fatigue, Cervical Joint Position Sense Errors, and Headache Pain and Disability in Individuals With Chronic Cervicogenic Headache

This research study aims to better understand the relationships between neck muscle function, neck joint position sense, and headache pain and disability in people with chronic cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headache is headache originating from the neck area.

Participants will fill out questionnaires about their headache pain and ability to do daily activities. They will also do tests to measure neck muscle fatigue and neck joint position sense. Researchers will analyze if those with more neck muscle fatigue and poorer joint position sense have worse headache pain and disability.

The results may improve understanding of cervical spine factors related to cervicogenic headache. This could help guide more targeted treatment approaches.

Chronic cervicogenic headache (CGH) is characterized by chronic headache originating from the upper cervical spine and occipital region. CGH is associated with impairments in cervical muscular control and proprioception or joint position sense. However, relationships between these cervical impairments and headache symptoms are not fully elucidated.

This cross-sectional quantitative study aims to investigate associations between neck flexor muscle fatigue, cervical joint position sense, and clinical headache parameters like pain and disability in individuals with CGH.

A sample of 30 adults ages 18-65 years old with CGH longer than 3 months duration and more than 15 headache days per month will be recruited from neurology clinics. Participants will attend a single 2 hour study visit.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18-60 years
• Chronic CGH (>3 months duration)
• Headache frequency ≥15 days/month

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cervical nerve root compression or other specific pathologies explaining headache
• History of cervical spine surgery
• Botulinum toxin injections in cervical musculature in past 6 months