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Published on: April 28, 2020
An investigation of 3D spinal alignment in cervicogenic headache
Ibrahim M Moustafa1, Tamer M Shousha1, Deed E Harrison2
1Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
Background:
There is a growing interest in the impact of body posture influences on outcome measures of cervicogenic headache (CGH).
Objective:
To evaluate differences in the 3D spinal alignment in cases suffering from chronic CGH compared to a group of strictly matched control participants without CGH.
Design:
A single-blinded, comparative cohort design.
Methods:
100 participants suffering from frequent headaches for at least 3 months who fulfilled the CHISG criteria for CGH were match by age and sex to 100 asymptomatic control group participants. A 4D Formetric device was used to assess participants' posture variables of: 1) thoracic kyphosis max (ICT-ITL in degrees); 2) trunk lateral imbalance (VP-DM in mm); 3) Trunk anterior inclination (VP-DM in mm); 4) lumbar lordotic angle (ITL-ILS max in degrees); 5) Vertebral rotation (rms) in degrees. A matched-pairs binary logistic regression was used to determine whether measurements of posture demonstrated an association with the likelihood of the presence of CGH.
Results:
There were statistically significant differences between the CGH and control group for all posture variables indicating larger posture displacements in the CGH group: ICT-ITL (p < .001), Lateral VP-DM (p < .001), Sagittal VP-DM (p < .001), ITL-ILS (p < .001), RMS (p < .001). Logistic regression revealed that as posture displacement increased, a statistically significant increased likelihood of having CGH occurred: (ICT-ITL (max) (p < .001); Trunk imbalance VP-DM (p < .004); Trunk inclination VP-DM (p < .001); and vertebral rotation (RMS) (p = .007). No such relationship was found for Lumbar Lordosis ITL-ILS max.
Conclusions:
Participants with CGH exhibited increased magnitudes of thoracolumbar posture displacements which corresponded to an increased odds of suffering from CGH compared to matched control participants.
