Vestibular functioning and migraine: comparing those with and without vertigo to a normal population

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Vestibular Science

Background:

• Migraine is a complex neurological disorder.
• Migrainous vertigo is a subtype of migraine characterized by vestibular symptoms.
• Understanding vestibular function in migraine is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare vestibular functioning and gait in individuals with migrainous vertigo, migraine without vertigo, and a control group.
• To investigate potential differences during non-migrainous periods.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-six participants were divided into three groups: migrainous vertigo, migraine without vertigo, and control (22 per group).
• Vestibular function was assessed using the head shake sensory organisation test, gaze stabilisation test, and dynamic visual acuity test.
• Functional gait was evaluated using the functional gait assessment.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found in gaze stabilisation pitch tests, with the control group demonstrating faster head movement.
• The control group scored highest in functional gait, while the migrainous vertigo group scored lowest.
• No significant differences were observed in vestibular spinal reflex and balance tests between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Migraine sufferers, particularly those with migrainous vertigo, show distinct differences in vestibular ocular reflexes and function compared to non-migraine sufferers.
• These findings suggest that vestibular rehabilitation for migrainous vertigo should prioritize vestibular ocular reflexes and functional retraining.