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EMG Activity in Pericranial Muscles During Postural Variation and Mental Activity in Healthy Volunteers and Patients With Chronic Tension Type Headache
Author(s) -
Schoenen Jean,
Gerard Pascale,
Pasqua Victor,
Juprelle Martine
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1991.hed3105321.x
Subject(s) - supine position , medicine , biofeedback , physical medicine and rehabilitation , electromyography , frontalis muscle , anxiety , physical therapy , tension headache , muscle tension , anesthesia , migraine , surgery , forehead , psychiatry
SYNOPSIS EMG activity was recorded over frontalis, temporalis and trapezius muscles in a supine position, a standing position and during a mental task in 32 female patients suffering from chronic tension‐type headache and in 20 healthy volunteers. Measurements in patients were made before and after biofeedback therapy. All EMG levels were on average significantly higher in patients than in controls. 62.5% of patients had at least one abnormal EMG level, but only 34% were beyond the normal range, if 1 muscle and I recording condition was considered. EMG levels were not correlated with headache severity, anxiety or response to biofeedback treatment. It is therefore suggested that pericranial EMG activity is not pathogenetic in chronic tension type headache, but merely one of several pathophysiologic changes, that are produced by a central dysfunction.