Muscle Contraction and Migraine Headache: Psychophysiologic Comparison

SYNOPSIS

Muscle contraction headache and migraine patients were compared for symptoms of muscular and vascular activity, and responsiveness to frontalis electromyogram (EMG) biofeedback therapy. Locations of head pain were non‐specific to the diagnostic groups. Migraine patients had higher frontalis EMG activity than muscle contraction headache patients and headache‐free controls. Both headache groups had higher neck EMG activity than controls. Pulse velocities in the superficial temporal arteries were similar in the two headache patient groups but different from controls. It is suggested that muscle contraction headache and migraine patients have similar physiologic predisposition for headaches. Further support for similar predisposition in the two groups was provided by the frontalis EMG biofeedback results which showed this treatment to be equally effective for both groups.