CERVICAL MUSCULOSKELETAL DYSFUNCTION IN POST-CONCUSSIONAL HEADACHE

Persistent headache is a common symptom following a minor head injury or concussion, possibly related to simultaneous injury of structures o f the cervical spine. This study measured aspects of cervical musculos keletal function in a group of patients (IZ) with post-concussional he adache (PCH) and in a normal control group. The PCH group was distingu ished from the control group by the presence of painful upper cervical segmental joint dysfunction, less endurance in the neck flexor muscle s and a higher incidence of moderately tight neck musculature. Active range of cervical motion and postural attitude were not significantly different between groups. As upper cervical joint dysfunction is a fea ture of cervicogenic causes of headache, the results of this study sup port the inclusion of a precise physical examination of the cervical r egion in differential diagnosis of patients suffering persistent heada che following concussion.