Observational studyBrazilian journal of physical therapy
Analysis of dimensions, activation and median frequency of cervical flexor muscles in young women with migraine or tension-type headache.
Observational study in Brazilian journal of physical therapy. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Are Morphometric Alterations of the Deep Neck Muscles Related to Primary Headache Disorders? A Systematic Review.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Pooled it
- Differentiating migraine, cervicogenic headache and asymptomatic individuals based on physical examination findings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Pooled it
- Testing the Reliability of a Procedure Using Shear-Wave Elastography for Measuring Longus Colli Muscle Stiffness.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Pain sensitization and atrophy of deep cervical muscles in patients with chronic tension-type headache.Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992) · 2023Observational
- Volume of the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle in migraine patients: a cross-sectional structural MRI study.The journal of headache and pain · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCentral and peripheral mechanisms may be involved in migraine and tension-type headache pathogenesis, however the role of muscle disorders in their pathophysiological mechanisms remains unclear.
objectivesTo assess the association between the presence of migraine or tension-type headache and changes in longus colli muscle dimensions and sternocleidomastoid muscle activity.
methodAn observational study with 48 women comparing the following groups: migraine (n=21), tension-type headache (n=16), and control (n=11). The cross-sectional area, lateral and anteroposterior dimensions, and shape ratio of the longus colli muscle were measured using ultrasound. The activation of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was assessed by signal amplitude and the decline in median frequency using surface electromyographic analysis.
resultsThe dimensions of the longus colli muscle did not differ between groups (p>0.05). Post-test analysis showed lower sternocleidomastoid muscle activation on both sides, at the onset of contraction, in the group with tension-type headache when compared to the control group {right sternocleidomastoid [tension-type headache: 0.39 (0.30-0.49); control: 0.58 (0.42-0.76); p=0.026] and left sternocleidomastoid [tension-type headache: 0.39 (0.31-0.48); control: 0.60 (0.42-0.79); p=0.039], Tukey's post hoc test}. There was no difference between the three groups in sternocleidomastoid muscle activation, on both sides, at the end of contraction (p>0.05). Intergroup analysis showed no difference in the rate of decline in median frequency (p>0.05).
conclusionThe group with tension-type headache exhibited less activation at the onset of sternocleidomastoid muscle contraction. No association was observed between the presence of headache and alterations in longus colli muscle dimensions, median frequency, and sternocleidomastoid muscle activation at the end of contraction.
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