Is there a difference between the sexes in the characteristics of cervical pain and in the musculoskeletal dysfunction of the cervical spine associated with migraine?

• Grant number: 18/24303-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal researcher: Débora Bevilaqua Grossi
• Grantee: Nathan da Silva Xavier
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Migraine is a neurological condition commonly associated with females, since its prevalent is greater in woman than man. However, there is no enough knowledge regarding the clinical features of migraine and musculoskeletal comorbidities in man. Objective: To verify if there is any difference between the sexes regarding the report of neck pain, neck-related disability, performance in the craniocervical flexion test and passive mobility of the upper cervical spine in patients with migraine. Methods: A sample will be consisted of sixty patients with migraine, thirty male and thirty female. The disability related to migraine will be assessed by the Migraine Disability Assessment; the presence and severity of cutaneous allodynia by the 12-item Allodynia Checklist; the disability related to the neck by the Neck Disability Index; and the presence of kinesiophobia by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. In the physical examination, the mobility of the upper cervical spine will be evaluated by the Flexion Rotation Test and the muscular performance of the deep cervical flexor muscles by the Craniocervical Flexion Test. The groups will be compared through statistical tests according to variables distribution and a level of significance of 0.05 will be adopted. Perspectives: The better understanding about the headache features, the neck pain and the neck disorder in males with migraine and the identification of the differences in relation to women, would improve the clinical management of this disease in a subgroup of patients that seems in the present moment underestimated.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

XAVIER, NATHAN DA SILVA; BENATTO, MARIANA TEDESCHI; FLORENCIO, LIDIANE LIMA; FERNANDEZ-DE-LAS-PENAS, CESAR; DACH, FABIOLA; BEVILAQUA-GROSSI, DEBORA. Are There Gender Differences in Neck Pain and Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Cervical Spine Associated with Migraine?. PAIN MEDICINE, v. 22, n. 12, p. 3021-3029, DEC 2021. (18/24303-6)