Is kinesiophobia related to fear of falling, dizziness disability, and migraine disability in patients with migraine?

INTRODUCTION: Kinesiophobia is a common symptom associated with high disability, and has been observed in patients with migraine. However, the association between kinesiophobia and clinical factors in this population is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the fear of falling, dizziness disability, and migraine disability in patients with migraine, considering the presence of kinesiophobia. METHODS: Eighty patients with migraine completed the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and were divided into two groups according to the questionnaire cutoff point: migraine without kinesiophobia (MoK, n = 39) and migraine with kinesiophobia (MK, n = 41). Fear of falling, dizziness disability, and migraine disability were assessed in both groups using validated questionnaires. RESULTS: The MK group presented higher scores on dizziness disability, fear of falling, and migraine disability compared to the MoK (p < .05). Kinesiophobia can explain 29% of the variance in dizziness disability and 18% of migraine disability. Both kinesiophobia and the presence of dizziness can explain 14% of fear of falling variability. Also, kinesiophobia is associated with the risk of presenting fear of falling (Prevalence Ratio = 2.4, p = .012), and migraine disability (Prevalence Ratio = 2.6, p = .01). CONCLUSION: The presence of kinesiophobia should be considered in clinical practice when evaluating migraine, as it is associated with increased levels of fear of falling, dizziness disability, and migraine disability.

The presence of aura is not related to changes in the cervical performance and mobility of patients with migraine.

BACKGROUND: Migraine may be associated with neck impairment and migraine chronicity is related to greater disability. However, whether other subclassifications of migraine, such as migraine with aura, are related to neck impairment is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the musculoskeletal aspects of the neck in patients with migraine with and without aura. METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with migraine were recruited from a tertiary headache clinic. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (MA, n = 37) and absence of aura (MoA, n = 88). The self-report of neck pain and neck disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The patients underwent the flexion rotation test (FRT) and craniocervical flexion test (CCFT). RESULTS: There was no association between the presence of aura and neck pain (χ2: 1.32, p = 0.25). No differences in the extent of neck disability (MA: 10.73, SD: 6.22; MoA: 9.63, SD:8.13, p = 0.25) or disability severity (χ2 = 6.17, p = 0.10) were found between groups. The FRT did not differ between the groups (MA: 35.07°, SD: 7.90 and MoA: 34.60°, SD: 8.70, t = -0.22, p = 0.83) and there was no association between positive FRT and aura (χ2 = 0.004, p = 0.56). The absence of difference between groups was also verified in the CCFT test (U = 1648.0, p = 0.89). CONCLUSION: There was no association between aura and neck pain disability, reduced upper cervical spine mobility or reduced neck muscle performance. No differences in the neck impairment level between patients with and without aura during the clinical assessment of the cervical spine are expected.