The Influence of the Cervical Spine on Chronic Headache in Women: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study compares selected posture, mobility, strength and endurance variables in subjects with chronic headaches to the same features in asymptomatic subjects. Two convenience samples of 10 female subjects were obtained: 1) those who experience chronic headache, mean age of 34.2 years (SD=11, range=23-57), and 2) a group not experiencing headache mean age of 30 years (SD=9.6, range=21-50). Measurements compared: 1) cervical range of motion in flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion, 2) cervical strength in flexion and extension, 3) forward head posture (FHP), 4) forward shoulder posture (FSP), and 5) endurance testing of the anterior cervical musculature between the two groups.Statistical analysis was completed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The headache group was found to have significantly less cervical extension ROM (p<0.05) and lower strength for both the cervical flexor (p=0.001) and cervical extensor (p<0.01) muscle groups; in addition the endurance of the anterior cervical musculature was significantly decreased (p=0.001) as compared to the controls. Forward head and forward shoulder posture measurements did not differ between the two groups.