Self-reported neck pain is associated with migraine but not with tension-type headache in adolescents. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blaschek, Astrid; Decke, Siona; Albers, Lucia; Schroeder, Andreas Sebastian; Lehmann, Steffi; Straube, Andreas; Landgraf, Mirjam N; Heinen, Florian; von Kries, Rüdiger
• Is Part Of: Cephalalgia. Volume 34:Number 11(2014)
• Page Start: 895
• Page End: 903
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Adolescents -- headache -- migraine -- neck pain -- tension–type headache; Headache -- Periodicals; 616.8491
• DOI: 10.1177/0333102414523338
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0333-1024

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present analysis is to confirm or refute the association of neck pain to migraine or tension-type headache and to assess whether this association is independent of other risk factors for headache. Methods: Secondary school students were invited to complete a questionnaire on headache and lifestyle factors in a cross-sectional study. Neck pain was assessed via (a) a screening question concerning neck pain and (b) denoting affected areas in schematic drawings of the human body. Results: Absolute increment in prevalence of headache with pain in the shoulder-neck region was between 7.5% and 9.6%. Gender, grade, stress and lifestyle factors were assessed as potential confounding factors. Nearly all factors were associated with shoulder-neck pain and most with headache. After adjustment for confounders, the association of neck pain with headache was almost completely confined to migraine (OR 2.39; 95% CI 1.48–3.85) and migraine + tension-type headache (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.50–2.99), whereas the association with isolated tension-type headache was negligible (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.87–1.69). Conclusion: Neck pain is associated with migraine but not with tension-type headache. A possible link between migraine and neck pain may be the cervico-trigeminal convergence of neck and meningeal sensory afferents or a disturbed descending inhibition in migraine.