Relationship between thickness of deep neck muscles synergy and painful side in patients with cervicogenic headache

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate changes in the thickness of the upper deep neck muscles in patients with cervicogenic headache (CGH). Methods: The thickness of the longus capitis (LCap) muscle, rectus capitis posterior major (RCPM), and obliquus capitis superior (OCS) muscles was measured by B-mode ultrasonography in 22 CGH patients matched with 22 healthy subjects. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: The thickness of all muscles in the CGH group was less than healthy subjects. The thickness of the LCap muscle and right RCPM muscle was significantly different between the CGH and healthy subjects (p < .05), but there was no difference in the thickness of the OCS and left RCPM muscles between the groups (p > .05). Moreover, the thickness differences were not related to the CGH side (p > .05). Discussion: These muscles were atrophic due to CGH, but this phenomenon was not related to the headache side and was bilateral.