Impaired Standing Balance in Individuals with Cervicogenic Headache and Migraine

Aims: To determine whether a difference in standing balance exists among individuals with cervicogenic headache, those with migraine, and asymptomatic controls. Methods: A total of 24 participants with cervicogenic headache, 24 with migraine, and 24 asymptomatic controls of similar age, gender, and body mass index were included. Standing balance was assessed with a swaymeter under the conditions of eyes open and closed; on firm and soft surfaces; and in comfortable and narrow stances (for a total of eight testing conditions). Each condition was tested for 30 seconds. The outcome measures were sway area and displacement. Multivariate analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc test were used to analyze between-group differences in the postural sway variables. Results: Both headache groups had significantly larger sway areas than the control group during comfortable stance with eyes open and with eyes closed on a soft surface (P .05) and during narrow stance with eyes closed on firm and soft surfaces (P .05). The overall results demonstrated significantly greater sway in the anterior-posterior direction and less sway in the medial-lateral direction in selected tests in the cervicogenic headache group compared to the migraine group. Conclusion: Individuals with cervicogenic headache and those with migraine have impaired balance during standing, but possibly to a different extent and pattern. Assessment of balance in patients with cervicogenic headache and migraine should be considered in clinical practice. Keywords: balance, cervicogenic headache, headache, migraine, sensorimotor dysfunction