Lateralization of headache: possible role of an upper cervical trigger point

An ipsilateral upper neck trigger point was found in 21 of 24 patients with unilateral headache. During the prodromic period this trigger point was detected as a tender protrusion on neck palpation. In 18 out of 24 patients it was also found during the headache-free period. On standard roentgenogram...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cephalalgia 1989-03, Vol.9 (1), p.15-24
Main Authors: Boquet, J, Boismare, F, Payenneville, G, Leclerc, D, Monnier, J C, Moore, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Electromyography
Female
Functional Laterality
Headache - etiology
Headache - physiopathology
Humans
Male
Neck - diagnostic imaging
Neck - physiology
Neck Muscles - physiology
Physical Examination
Radiography
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:An ipsilateral upper neck trigger point was found in 21 of 24 patients with unilateral headache. During the prodromic period this trigger point was detected as a tender protrusion on neck palpation. In 18 out of 24 patients it was also found during the headache-free period. On standard roentgenogram, this protrusion seemed to be a laterally developed C2 spinous process. The EMG study showed latent trapezius hypertonicity on the side of the headache, even during the headache-free period. The association of the painful protrusion and trapezius hypertonicity could create an autoreinforcing nociceptive loop, which in turn could be the cause of lateralization of the pain.
ISSN:0333-1024
1468-2982
DOI:10.1046/j.1468-2982.1989.901015.x