Relationship between echogenicity of deep cervical muscles and pain laterality in subjects suffering from cervicogenic headache.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the deep upper cervical muscles echogenicity in cervicogenic headache (CGH) patients.

METHODS

The echogenicity of longus capitis (LCAP), rectus capitis posterior major (RCPM), and obliquus capitis superior (OCS) muscles was measured by ultrasonography and analyzed by Image J software in 17 CGH patients matched with 17 healthy subjects.

RESULTS

The echogenicity of all muscles in the CGH group was higher than that in healthy subjects. The echogenicity of the LCAP muscle on the right side was significantly different between the CGH and healthy subjects (< 0.05), but there was no difference in the echogenicity of RCPM and OCS muscles between the groups (> 0.05). Additionally, the echogenicity differences did not match with the pain side in CGH patients (> 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Only the deep anterior muscle (LCAP) echogenicity affected by CGH and fatty infiltration occurred in this muscle. Hence, anterior muscle dysfunction is important in CGH diagnosis and treatment.