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Pressure pain threshold in the craniocervical muscles of women with episodic and chronic migraine: a controlled study

Limiar de dor por pressão de músculos craniocervicais em mulheres com migrânea episódica e crônica: um estudo controlado

Abstracts

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the craniocervical muscles in women with episodic migraine (EM) n=15 and chronic migraine (CM) n=14, and in healthy volunteers (C) n=15. METHOD: A blinded examiner obtained the PPT bilaterally, by pressure algometry, for the following muscles: frontalis, temporalis, masseter, trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. ANOVA (p<0.05) was used for statistical purposes. RESULTS: Contrasted to controls, individuals with EM had significantly decreased PPT values for frontal muscle (EM: 2.01±0.67 vs. C: 2.85±0.71), posterior temporalis bilaterally (right and left, respectively) (EM: 2.72±0.89 vs. C: 3.36±0.72 and EM: 2.60±1.00 vs. C: 3.35±0.85), upper trapezius bilaterally (EM: 2.69±1.00 vs. C: 3.49±0.83 and EM: 2.54±0.93 vs. C: 3.32±0.97) and women with CM: on frontal muscle bilaterally (CM: 2.16±0.52 vs. C: 2.79±0.71 and CM: 2.01±0.67 vs. C: 2.85±0.71) and upper trapezius (CM: 2.66±0.84 vs. C: 3.32±0.97), however, it was not verified differences between PPT values between EM and CM groups. CONCLUSION: PPT is decreased in women with migraine relative to controls. Future studies should explore this parameter as a biological marker of the disease and a predictor of treatment.

pain threshold; neck muscles; masticatory muscles; migraine disorders


OBJETIVO: Estimar os valores de limiar de dor por pressão (LDP) dos músculos craniocervicais de mulheres com migrânea episódica (ME) n=15 e crônica (MC) n=14, e em voluntários controles saudáveis (C) n=15. MÉTODO: O LDP foi obtido bilateralmente por examinadores cegos através da algometria de pressão nos seguintes músculos: frontal, temporal, masseter, trapézio e esternocleidomastóideo. Para análise estatística foi utilizada a ANOVA (p<0.05). RESULTADOS: Em relação aos controles, pacientes com ME apresentaram redução significativa do LDP para os músculos: frontal (ME: 2,01±0,67 vs. C: 2,85±0,71), temporal posterior bilateralmente (direito e esquerdo, respectivamente) (ME: 2,72±0,89 vs. C: 3,36±0,72 e ME: 2,60±1,00 vs. C: 3,35±0,85), trapézio superior bilateralmente (ME: 2,69±1,00 vs. C: 3,49±0,83 e ME: 2,54±0,93 vs. C: 3,32±0,97) e mulheres com MC: no músculo frontal bilateralmente (MC: 2,16±0,52 vs. C: 2,79±0,71 e MC: 2,01±0,67 vs. C: 2,85±0,71) e trapézio superior (MC: 2,66±0,84 vs. C: 3,32±0,97). Entretanto não foram verificadas diferenças entre os valores de LDP entre os grupos ME e MC. CONCLUSÃO: O LDP mostrou-se reduzido em mulheres com migrânea episódica ou crônica em relação aos controles. Em estudos futuros, esse parâmetro pode ser estudado como marcador da migrânea e indicador de efeito de tratamento.

limiar da dor; músculos do pescoço; músculos mastigatórios; enxaqueca


ARTICLE

Pressure pain threshold in the craniocervical muscles of women with episodic and chronic migraine: a controlled study

Limiar de dor por pressão de músculos craniocervicais em mulheres com migrânea episódica e crônica: um estudo controlado

Débora Bevilaqua GrossiI; Thais Cristina ChavesII; Maria Claudia GonçalvesIII; Viviane Coimbra MoreiraIV; Alexandra Carolina CanonicaIV; Lidiane Lima FlorencioIV; Carlos Alberto BordiniV; José Geraldo SpecialiV; Marcelo Eduardo BigalVI

IProfessor. Department of Biomechanics Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus

IIPh.D. Department of Biomechanics Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus

IIIMSc. Department of Biomechanics Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus

IVGraduation Student. Phisical Therapy Course

VProfessor. Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences

VIHead of the Merck Investigator Study Program and Scientific Education, Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Merck inc, United States

Correspondence Correspondence: Débora Bevilaqua Grossi Department of Biomechanics Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus Av. Bandeirantes 3900 - 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto SP - Brasil E-mail: deborabg@fmrp.usp.br

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the craniocervical muscles in women with episodic migraine (EM) n=15 and chronic migraine (CM) n=14, and in healthy volunteers (C) n=15.

METHOD: A blinded examiner obtained the PPT bilaterally, by pressure algometry, for the following muscles: frontalis, temporalis, masseter, trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. ANOVA (p<0.05) was used for statistical purposes.

RESULTS: Contrasted to controls, individuals with EM had significantly decreased PPT values for frontal muscle (EM: 2.01±0.67 vs. C: 2.85±0.71), posterior temporalis bilaterally (right and left, respectively) (EM: 2.72±0.89 vs. C: 3.36±0.72 and EM: 2.60±1.00 vs. C: 3.35±0.85), upper trapezius bilaterally (EM: 2.69±1.00 vs. C: 3.49±0.83 and EM: 2.54±0.93 vs. C: 3.32±0.97) and women with CM: on frontal muscle bilaterally (CM: 2.16±0.52 vs. C: 2.79±0.71 and CM: 2.01±0.67 vs. C: 2.85±0.71) and upper trapezius (CM: 2.66±0.84 vs. C: 3.32±0.97), however, it was not verified differences between PPT values between EM and CM groups.

CONCLUSION: PPT is decreased in women with migraine relative to controls. Future studies should explore this parameter as a biological marker of the disease and a predictor of treatment.

Key words: pain threshold, neck muscles, masticatory muscles, migraine disorders

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: Estimar os valores de limiar de dor por pressão (LDP) dos músculos craniocervicais de mulheres com migrânea episódica (ME) n=15 e crônica (MC) n=14, e em voluntários controles saudáveis (C) n=15.

MÉTODO: O LDP foi obtido bilateralmente por examinadores cegos através da algometria de pressão nos seguintes músculos: frontal, temporal, masseter, trapézio e esternocleidomastóideo. Para análise estatística foi utilizada a ANOVA (p<0.05).

RESULTADOS: Em relação aos controles, pacientes com ME apresentaram redução significativa do LDP para os músculos: frontal (ME: 2,01±0,67 vs. C: 2,85±0,71), temporal posterior bilateralmente (direito e esquerdo, respectivamente) (ME: 2,72±0,89 vs. C: 3,36±0,72 e ME: 2,60±1,00 vs. C: 3,35±0,85), trapézio superior bilateralmente (ME: 2,69±1,00 vs. C: 3,49±0,83 e ME: 2,54±0,93 vs. C: 3,32±0,97) e mulheres com MC: no músculo frontal bilateralmente (MC: 2,16±0,52 vs. C: 2,79±0,71 e MC: 2,01±0,67 vs. C: 2,85±0,71) e trapézio superior (MC: 2,66±0,84 vs. C: 3,32±0,97). Entretanto não foram verificadas diferenças entre os valores de LDP entre os grupos ME e MC.

CONCLUSÃO: O LDP mostrou-se reduzido em mulheres com migrânea episódica ou crônica em relação aos controles. Em estudos futuros, esse parâmetro pode ser estudado como marcador da migrânea e indicador de efeito de tratamento.

Palavras-chave: limiar da dor, músculos do pescoço, músculos mastigatórios, enxaqueca.

Headache is an almost universal experience. Among the recurrent forms of headache, migraine affects around 18% of the women in adult population in the United States of America1.

Migraine is currently conceptualized as a chronic condition with episodic attacks2 with the potential for progression, meaning that in some individuals, migraine evolves into a stage in which patients have headaches on more days than not, a condition called chronic migraine (CM)3.

Prolonged nociceptive input from the periphery may result in central sensitization of the incoming stimuli4 and this may be of relevance to migraine5. In migraine, central sensitization is associated with refractoriness to treatment5 and is a risk factor for chronic migraine6. If that is so, it may be speculated that muscle disorders may, per se, be a risk factor for migraine progression to a chronic condition7, since they may predispose to central sensitization. The sensitization of pain pathways may increase muscle tenderness in migraineurs8, or indeed muscle tenderness may contribute to central sensitization9. Peripheral and central sensitization may be estimated by using pressure pain thresholds (PPT)10.

The results of pain threshold in migraine populations are contradictory9,11,12 and have not used algometry. Quantitative Sensory Test (QST) studies suggested that pain threshold is decreased in CM relative to Episodic Migraine (EM) and to controls13. Although QST is considered to be the gold standard for pain assessment, it assesses skin sensitivity and not muscle tenderness, therefore not considering the possible peripheral contribution to the chronification mechanism.

Accordingly the objective of this study was to evaluate the craniocervical PPT values in women with EM and CM, relative to controls.

METHOD

Subjects and overall description

During a 10-month period, women from 20 to 60 years were randomly selected at a University-based headache outpatient clinic. Our sample consisted of 44 women, being 15 (36.3±10.3 years) with EM without aura, 14 (38.0±10.4 years) with CM (also evolving from migraine without aura) and 15 women (39.9±10.5 years) without current or past history of EM or CM. For a sample size of 42 volunteers, it was verified a power of 0.85, α=0.05 and effect size of 0.40 (medium effect). It was calculated considering the mean PPT values for frontal muscle. Migraine was diagnosed according to the Second Edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-2)14. For CM diagnosis we have used the criteria of Silberstein-Lipton for transformed migraine3. These criteria require headaches 15 or more days per month, past history of episodic migraine and a history of increasing headache frequency. We elected to use the term CM, since studies show that both criteria have 93% of agreement15 and to avoid future nomenclature confusion. Diagnoses were assigned by a headache specialist before the PPT procedure. Controls (C) volunteers, EM and CM patients could not have a diagnoses or complaint of chronic musculoskeletal painful conditions12. The control group was selected among people accompanying patients and from the hospital staff10.

Exclusion criteria were: other primary headaches, use of analgesic medication over the 24 hours before the evaluation with pressure algometry10,16 medication overuse headache, women who reached a PPT value above the maximum permitted by the apparatus (20 kg) during calibration (palpation of the thenar region)17 and women diagnosed with neuropathic pain11.

The volunteers provided written consent to take part in the research, and the project was approved by the Ethics Committee on Research of the Clinics Hospital from the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto.

Procedures

PPTs were measured using a digital manual dynamometer (DDK-10, Kratos) adapted for algometry evaluation17.The measurement interval of the device ranges from 0 to 29 kg, with a precision of 0.001 kg. A rubber disk measuring 1 cm2 was adapted to the metal point of the device to avoid any harm18.

A first examiner screened and forwarded the volunteers to the other two examiners (2 and 3), who performed algometry after the medical visit. Examiners 2 and 3 performed data collection and Intra and Interrater Reliability of Pressure Algometry. They were blinded to the diagnoses of the subjects. They had been previously trained (15 hours) to apply a constant pressure speed of approximately 1.0 kg/cm2/s and correctly position the metal point of the device perpendicular to the evaluated anatomical surfaces. A digital metronome, with frequency of 1Hz, was used in all evaluations for both examiners with the purpose to provide audio feedback and standardization of the pressure application speed17.

During a training session, PPT was obtained on the thenar region of the examiner's right hand, and later on the volunteer's hand, in the same region17. Subjects were informed that the evaluation had the objective to determine the pain threshold, and not tolerance to pain, an evaluation section followed.

The PPT values were then obtained bilaterally for the following anatomic points, previously located and marked19:

  • Frontal muscle (2 cm above the surfacing of the supra orbital branch of the trigeminal nerve)

    19;

  • Anterior temporalis muscle (the most prominent and anterior point identified by manual palpation during maximal dental clenching)

    20;

  • Medium temporalis muscle (located 2 cm to the lateral rim of the eyebrow)

    20;

  • Posterior temporalis muscle (upper fibers behind and straight above the ear, identified by manual palpation during maximal dental clenching)

    20;

  • Masseter muscle (origin: anterior rim of the surface portion of the muscle; insertion: lower most prominent region identified by manual palpation during maximal dental clenching, and belly: the mid-point between the origin and the insertion) ;

  • Trapezius (insertion: the point immediately below the occipital bone, located in the sub-occipital region; upper fibers: mid-point between the spinous process C7 and the acromion);

  • Sternocleidomastoid muscle (upper portion: fibers below the mastoid process)

    21;

  • Right thenar region (used as control)

    17;

  • Pressure algometry on the different studied muscles was applied in a random sequence

    19, and the PPT levels were obtained in three consecutive series bilaterally

    11.

Intra and interrater reliability of pressure algometry

To verify the intra and interrater reliability of the pressure algometry procedure, five women without a history of headache and other painful conditions12 were evaluated on the same day for interrater reliability19 and after one week for the intrarater reliability22. The examiners were blinded to the PPT values obtained for each volunteer in the different evaluations.

Data analysis

To verify the agreement between intrarater and interrater of PPT values, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used and they were collected in five patients randomly selected from the control group. The ICC values were classified as follows: <0.4: poor reliability; 0.4-0.75: moderate reliability; >0.75: excellent reliability23.

For PPT values, we first averaged the mean of the three independent measures obtained for each of the three groups (C, EM, CM). Data demonstrated normal distribution by the application of Shapiro Wilk's W test.

Groups were compared using Analyses of Variance (ANOVA), Duncan post hoc test, p<0.05). SPSS package (version 14) was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics

Table 1 summarizes the main clinical characteristics of participants. For EM, onset of migraine happened from 1 to 31 years (15.9±11.4 years) before the study. Five women (33%) reported their headache attack most often occurred bilaterally and nine (67%) reported that it was unilateral.

In the CM group (38±10.4 years), the headache history ranged from 4 to 40 years (22.1±10.7 years). Seven volunteers (50%) in the CM group reported most of their headache attacks being bilateral. All individuals with CM and 13 (86.6%) with EM were using prophylactic medications.

ICC values for intra and interrater reliability

The PPT values obtained by pressure algometry (Table 2) showed excellent ICC levels for intra and interrater reliability for all assessed points, except for the point on the right frontal muscle, which presented moderate ICC value for intra rater reliability (ICC=0.74).

PPT values as a function of headache status

There were significant differences between groups (F=37.83; p<0.001) regarding the PPT values. Table 3 presents the mean and standard deviation for each site assessed.

Contrasted to controls, individuals with EM had significantly decreased PPT values (p<0.001) for the following muscles: left frontal (EM: 2.01±0.67 vs. C: 2.85±0.71), right and left posterior temporalis (EM: 2.72±0.89 vs. C: 3.36±0.72 and EM: 2.60±1.00 vs. C: 3.35±0.85, respectively) and right and left upper trapezius (EM: 2.69±1.00 vs. C: 3.49± 0.83 and EM: 2.54±0.93 vs. C: 3.32±0.97, respectively). As compared to controls, women with CM had significantly decreased PPT values on the right and left frontal muscles (CM: 2.16±0.52 vs. C: 2.79±0.71 and CM: 2.01±0.67 vs. C:2.85±0.71, respectively) and left upper trapezius muscle (CM: 2.66±0.84 vs. C: 3.32±0.97). However, in contrast analyses, it was not verified differences between EM and CM groups for all sites assessed (Duncan post hoc analysis, p<0.05).

DISCUSSION

Few controlled studies used PPT to estimate sensitization of pain pathways in migraine. We found a significant difference between EM and CM, relatively to controls. We found no difference between EM and CM. Our data are supported by previous studies9,24 suggesting that PPT values may map onto migraine biology, being a marker of migraine, but not a marker of headache frequency.

Diffuse or generalized hypersensitiveness to pain is more likely to be caused by changes in the central pain modulation ways25 specifically the central sensitization involving the trigeminal nucleus caudalis26. Burstein5 has proposed that allodynic responses reflect central sensitization at the trigeminal nucleus (facial allodynia) and at the thalamus (extra-cephalic allodynia).

Prolonged nociceptive input from the periphery may be associated to the onset of central sensitization, may exacerbate already established central sensitization, and may impair supraspinal pain modulation, since the hyperexcitability could contribute to an amplification of the nociceptive signal coming from the periphery4,27. As a result peripheral nociceptive inputs from the face and cervical sites, contributing or not to central sensitization may have influenced the lower PPT values showed in EM and CM groups.

Considering the contribution of peripheral nociceptive input, the reduction in PPT of masticatory and neck muscles for both groups could be explained by a relationship between trigger points on these sites and migraine. Corroborating our hypothesis, Olesen28 reported and discussed a theory about triggers points and the onset of migraine attacks. According to the model, perceived pain (headache) intensity is determined by the sum of nociception from cephalic arteries and pericranial myofascial tissues converging upon the same neurons and integrated with supraspinal effects (usually facilitating). Vascular input predominates over myofascial input in migraine, whereas significance of supraspinal facilitation is difficult to estimate28.

It's important to note that we have excluded in this study patients with diagnosis and/or complaint of other chronic musculoskeletal conditions, such as myofascial pain syndrome. However, it's possible that many patients could present latent trigger points (latent trigger points does not refer pain actively, but may do so when pressure or strain is applied to the musculoskeletal structure) that could influence migraine episodes but not deflagrate clinical symptoms verified during an anamnesis. Other explanation could be related to the frequency of myofascial pain episodes which could not characterize a chronic condition, but with a considerable frequency to enlarge peripheral nociceptive inputs.

If substantial differences were seen between CM and EM, it could be speculated that the greater the headache frequency more pronounced the central sensitization mechanism and the prolonged nociceptive inputs from trigger points could either contribute/onset28 or be a consequence of this process. In this way, PPT of craniocervical muscles could function as a marker of migraine chronification. By the other hand, our findings suggest that PPT reflects disease itself, not disease severity in terms of frequency.

However, it must be considered that the time of appearance of the disease was 15 and 22 years for EM and CM, respectively (Table 1). In this way, the long time duration of the disease could contribute to the development of a chronic pain condition independently of migraine frequency, as suggest by the International Study of Pain (IASP) since to characterize chronic pain a temporal criteria of six months is generally used.

In disagreement with our results, Buchgreitz et al.4 reported an association between increased muscle tenderness and headache chronification, but the authors did not evaluate episodic and chronic migraine patients. Our findings also disagree with a large populational study, where central sensitization was assessed using a validated questionnaire29. In that study, cutaneous allodynia was more common in CM than in EM. To justify the differences, we offer two non-mutually exclusive explanations. First, our study was conducted in the tertiary care, where EM sufferers are often severely affected, since the time of appearance of the disease is extensive in patients commonly attended in this kind of health service. This may have narrowed the differences between EM and CM. Additionally, in this populational study, central sensitization was measured but not peripheral contribution. Since PPT accounts for peripheral input and central sensitization, it may lack specificity (e.g. if episodic migraine is associated with more peripheral input than central facilitation and chronic migraine is characterized by the opposite, final results would be similar). Finally, we emphasize that our study is small and therefore no adjustments were conducted.

To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to describe tenderness of craniocervical muscles in individuals with CM using pressure algometry in relation to healthy volunteers and comparing migraine and chronic migraine. In one of the few studies reported in the literature, patients were assessed by manual palpation, differences were presented for chronic tension-type headache and chronic migraine and a control group was not enrolled30,31.

Other studies investigated skin sensitivity in migraine patients in relation to healthy volunteers and in chronic versus episodic migraine patients12. However, such studies were conducted using Von Frey hairs and Quantitative Sensory Testing, in this way only skin sensitivity was verified and not the muscle tenderness, therefore not accounting for peripheral muscle contributions. Finally to the best of our knowledge, PPT values for masticatory and cervical sites as a function of headache status are missing.

The mechanism responsible for the transition from episodic to chronic pain are clinically very important for prevention and treatment strategies, but unfortunately poorly understood4. Differently from previous results8, our results failed to demonstrate a correlation between headache laterality and PPT values as observed by Fernandez-de- las-Peñas et al.9. This does not come to a surprise, since central sensitization accounts for bilateral hyperalgesia in unilateral pain syndromes30.

Our study has some limitations. First, this study was conducted in a clinic-based sample, second the sample size limits adjustments for confounders and third the absence of uniformity in pharmacologic treatment between patients.

Our data demonstrated that women with episodic and chronic migraine have reduced PPT values for several cranial and cervical muscles, as compared to controls. Future studies should better explore whether this parameter maps onto disease (EM and CM) or if a relationship with headache frequency was missed by our relatively small study. Studies should also assess if PPT values predict response to therapies.

Support

São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP process 06/56269-4 and 06/56742-1)

Received 9 November 2010

Received in final form 18 April 2011

Accepted 3 May 2011

School of Medicine at Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil

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  • Correspondence:
    Débora Bevilaqua Grossi
    Department of Biomechanics Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus
    Av. Bandeirantes 3900 - 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto SP - Brasil
    E-mail:
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      01 Sept 2011
    • Date of issue
      Aug 2011

    History

    • Received
      09 Nov 2010
    • Accepted
      03 May 2011
    • Reviewed
      18 Apr 2011
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