[Electromyographic studies of nape and temporal muscles in headaches of various etiology]

The author reports the results of electromyographic investigations of the muscles of the nape and temporal muscles in 132 patients with headaches of different aetiology (migraine, cervical migraine, vasomotor headache, symptomatic headaches) and in 51 controls who had never had headaches. In the healthy subjects no bioelectric activity was observed when the patients relaxed completely. On the other hand, in most patients with headaches continuous bioelectric activity was observed at rest in these muscles indicating their involuntary contraction. This phenomenon is called by the author "cephalalgic" spasm of head and neck muscles, which is rather characteristic of various headaches.