Is pressure pain sensitivity over the cervical musculature associated with neck disability in individuals with migraine?

SummaryThe objective was to determine if disability due to neck pain is correlated with pressure pain sensitivity in the cervical muscles in patients with migraine. Thirty-two volunteers with migraine completed the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) over the sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles were also assessed. Data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) and linear regression models (α < 0.05). Moderate negative correlations between NDI and PPT were obtained for the sternocleidomastoid (rs = −0.42; p = 0.001), upper trapezius (rs = −0.33; p = 0.001) and suboccipital muscles (rs = −0.41; p = 0.001). The linear regression revealed no association between NDI and PPT of sternocleidomastoid (β = 0.01; R2 = 0.17), upper trapezius (β = 0.01; R2 = 0.11) and suboccipital muscles (β = 0.02; R2 = 0.17). NDI scores and PPT of the cervical muscles correlated moderately and was inversely proportional in patients with migraine, but the association was not linear, so both outcomes should be considered in the assessment of this population.