Frequency of headaches associated with the cervical spine and relationships with anthropometric, muscle performance, and recreational factors

Objective: To investigate headache specifically associated with the cervica l spine, and factors associated with it. Design: Cross-sectional, population-based observational study. Setting: Two agriculturally based municipalities in southern Tasmania, Aust ralia. Patients: Four hundred fifty adults were randomly selected from electoral r olls; after refusals and exclusions, 427 subjects participated. Outcome Measure: For analysis, subjects were divided into three groups: tho se who did not have a particular type of headache in the previous month, th ose reporting fewer than two headaches of this type for the month (occasion al headache), and those reporting two or more (frequent) headaches of this type in the month, Study Factors: Information collected by questionnaire and by objective meas urement on anthropometric and functional measurements, wearing glasses or d entures, usual occupation, and usual recreational activities. Results: The monthly prevalence of frequent headaches associated with the c ervical spine was 28.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.2-32.9), and anot her 35.4% (30.9-40.1) of subjects had these headaches occasionally. The fre quency of headache occurrence was associated with a difference between fron t and back neck length of 2 cm or more. Occasional participation in recreat ional sport by men and wearing glasses by women were significant predictors of headache. Conclusion: Headaches of this type were more frequent in subjects with a lo ng anterior neck length relative to their posterior neck length, particular ly if they occasionally participated in recreational sports (men) or wore g lasses (women), (C) 1999 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicin e and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.