Correlation between chronic headaches and the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle: A comparative analysis of cross-sectional trail

• Published in: Cephalalgia Vol. 37; no. 11; pp. 1051 - 1056
• Main Authors: Yuan, Xiao-Ying, Yu, Sheng-Bo, Liu, Cong, Xu, Qiang, Zheng, Nan, Zhang, Jian-Fei, Chi, Yan-Yan, Wang, Xu-Gang, Lin, Xiang-Tao, Sui, Hong-Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Headache Disorders - etiology; Humans; Hypertrophy - complications; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Neck Muscles - pathology; Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle; hypertrophy; myodural bridge; chronic headaches
• ISSN: 0333-1024; 1468-2982
• DOI: 10.1177/0333102416664775

Objective We aimed to investigate the morphological changes and potential correlation between chronic headaches and the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle (RCPmi). Methods Comparison of RCPmi between patients with chronic headaches and healthy adult volunteers were collected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Mimics software. Results Among the 235 MRI images analyzed, the data between the two groups were considered statistically significant. The number of males was larger than that of females (p < 0.001) and the headache group showed greater hypertrophy than the control group in both males (p < 0.001) and females (p = 0.001). Conclusions Chronic headaches were correlated with the RCPmi. Patients with chronic headaches suffered from more obvious hypertrophy than that of the control group. Additionally, it was supposed that RCPmi hypertrophy may be one pathogenesis of the chronic headaches.