Gait control of migraine patients with increasing light and sound levels

Author(s)

Maciel, Nicoly Machado ; Carvalho, Gabreila Ferreira ; Pinheiro, Garina Ferreira ; van Emmerik, Richard ; Moraes, Renato ; Grossi, Debora Bevilaque

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GAIT & POSTURE; v. 92, p. 7-pg., 2022-02-01.

Abstract

Background: Under a typical light and sound environment context, individuals with migraine showed balance control deficits on a series of functional activities, which helps to explain why migraineurs report more falls. it isn't established, the effects of intensity light and sound in migraineurs during functional tasks. Research question: Based on the hypersensitivity to light and sound in migraineurs, not only during the attack but also in the interictal period, does the exposure to bright light and loud sound impact motor control in this population? Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 51 women with migraine and 22 healthy women. They performed three walking tasks: crossing an obstacle, stepping-up and stepping-down a curb, in a control situation with ambient lighting ( expressionpproximexpressiontely equexpressionl to 350 lux), bright light ( expressionpproximexpressiontely equexpressionl to 1200 lux), and loud sound ( expressionpproximexpressiontely equexpressionl to 90 dBa). For statistical analysis, a t-test, a Spearman correlation test, and a repeated measures mixed ANOVA were applied. Results: Migraineurs presented higher discomfort induced by light (p <= 0.0001) and sound (p = 0.001). In the obstacle task, migraineurs had greater step width than controls in the ambient light condition (p = 0.038) and participants of both groups placed their leading foot farther away from the obstacle in the light (p = 0.033) than in the ambient light condition. For the step-up task, this distance increased for both groups and limbs in the light (leading limb: p = 0.015; trailing limb: p = 0.002) and sound (leading limb: p = 0.010; trailing limb: p <= 0.0001) conditions compared to the ambient light condition. Step speed increased for light and sound conditions compared to ambient light condition, except for the sound condition in the step-down task. Significance: Despite the higher discomfort induced by light and sound in the migraineurs, the effects of these sensory manipulations were similar for both migraineurs and controls, except for step width. Light and sound manipulation induced a less conservative strategy to deal with uneven terrain in both groups. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/18031-5 - Association study of clinical, functional and neuroimaging in women with migraine
• Grantee: Débora Bevilaqua Grossi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants