ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the deep upper cervical muscles echogenicity in cervicogenic headache (CGH) patients. METHODS: The echogenicity of longus capitis (LCAP), rectus capitis posterior major (RCPM), and obliquus capitis superior (OCS) muscles was measured by ultrasonography and analyzed by Image J software in 17 CGH patients matched with 17 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The echogenicity of all muscles in the CGH group was higher than that in healthy subjects. The echogenicity of the LCAP muscle on the right side was significantly different between the CGH and healthy subjects (p< 0.05), but there was no difference in the echogenicity of RCPM and OCS muscles between the groups (p> 0.05). Additionally, the echogenicity differences did not match with the pain side in CGH patients (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Only the deep anterior muscle (LCAP) echogenicity affected by CGH and fatty infiltration occurred in this muscle. Hence, anterior muscle dysfunction is important in CGH diagnosis and treatment.
Subject(s)
Post-Traumatic Headache , Humans , Post-Traumatic Headache/diagnostic imaging , Headache/diagnosis , Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Pain , Neck Muscles/diagnostic imaging , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Post-Traumatic Headache , Headache/etiology , Humans , Neck Muscles/diagnostic imaging , Pain , Post-Traumatic Headache/diagnostic imaging , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cervicogenic headache (CGH) originated from impaired cervical musculoskeletal structures. Dysfunction of deep neck flexor muscles has been reported in CGH subjects. The purpose of this study was to assess relationship between the size of these muscles and headache laterality in CGH subjects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross sectional single blind study designed to investigate 37 CGH subjects compared with 37 healthy controls. Longus colli (LC) muscle Cross Sectional Area (CSA) in both sides was measured in supine position utilizing diagnostic ultrasonography. RESULTS: The mean CSA of LC muscle in healthy subjects was 0.74 ± 0.06 cm2 and in patients suffering from CGH was 0.74 ± 0.06 cm2 in left and 0.75 ± 0.06 cm<2 in right side. No significant difference was found between subjects suffering from CGH compared with healthy controls. Also no difference was found between muscle size of affected and non-affected side in unilateral CGH subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that there was no relationship between size of LC muscle and pain laterality in patients with CGH.
