A Questionnaire Survey of Muscular Symptoms in Chronic Headache An Age-and Sex-Controlled Study

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Abstract
In a questionnaire survey we determined the prevalence and intensity of muscular symptoms in a group of chronic headache sufferers as compared with age- and sex-matched controls. The muscular symptoms studied were tightness and soreness of the neck, shoulder, and jaw muscles. Muscle tightness was reported significantly more frequently in the headache than in the control group, but only for the neck muscles (48.6 vs. 29.9%; p < 0.01). When headache was present, the prevalence of neck muscle tightness in the headache group significantly increased further to 68.8% (p < 0.001) and that of jaw muscle tightness increased significantly from 17.2 to 29.7% (p < 0.01). The intensity of muscle tightness was again only significantly different between the headache and the control groups for the neck muscles (p < 0.01). However, it was significantly higher for all three muscle groups in the headache group when headache was actually present than when headache was absent (p < 0.001). With regard to the prevalence of muscle soreness, there were no significant differences between the headache and the control groups or within the headache group when headache was absent or present. However, the intensity of muscle soreness was significantly greater for all three muscle groups in the headache group when headache was present than when headache was absent (p < 0.001). The results indicate significant muscular symptoms in relation to headache, particularly in relation to the neck muscles, with tightness standing out more than soreness.

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