The physical examination of migraine

Patients and physicians are frequently unaware that pain coming from the muscles of the head and neck is probably the cause of the most frequent forms of migraine. Identifying the extracranial origins of the patient's headache by physical examination should reassure patient and examiner that the headache is benign and treatable. The results of the examination should lead to physical treatment, reducing headache frequency and severity. This paper describes techniques of the physical examination to identify the extracranial causes of migraine headache.