[Tension type headache with special reference to muscle abnormality]. 1995

M Sakuta
Department Neurology, Japanese Red Cross Medical Center.

Muscle contraction headache (tension-type headache; MCH) usually begins when a patient is looking down or bending their neck. In the case of MCH patients, EMG activity of the posterior neck muscles at a sitting posture is significantly higher than the controls when the orbito-meatal line is horizontal or bending downward. Comparing with the controls, blood flow of the posterior neck muscle decreases sharply when the head is bent downward. Decrease of the muscle blood flow continues if the muscle is passively contracted. However, in the case of active contraction, blood flow recovers reflexly in 30 seconds. This explains why postural muscle contraction is important. When a patient is ordered to bend her neck down at the orbitomeatal line 30 degrees from horizontal, patient complains of a dull feeling at her posterior neck muscles in 30 seconds. In two minutes dull headache appears at the occipital area, soon becoming more intense and spreading to the forehead and temporal area. Once she looks up, muscle contraction of the neck disappears though she still feels headache. After the local anesthesia is applied to the occipital tender point, her headache disappears completely. From this experiment, MCH is a referred pain from occipital tender point which is the insertion point of occipital neck muscles. Patients with poor stability of cervical bone, and relatively heavy head weight compared with their neck are susceptible to MCH. Psychological stress decreases blood flow of the muscle and aggravates ischemic muscle contraction. Other risk factors include hypotension, anemia, and weak muscle power.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007511 Ischemia A hypoperfusion of the BLOOD through an organ or tissue caused by a PATHOLOGIC CONSTRICTION or obstruction of its BLOOD VESSELS, or an absence of BLOOD CIRCULATION. Ischemias
D008297 Male Males
D009119 Muscle Contraction A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments. Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009333 Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the HEAD to the rest of the body. Necks
D011187 Posture The position or physical attitude of the body. Postures
D012039 Regional Blood Flow The flow of BLOOD through or around an organ or region of the body. Blood Flow, Regional,Blood Flows, Regional,Flow, Regional Blood,Flows, Regional Blood,Regional Blood Flows
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D018482 Muscle, Skeletal A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles. Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles
D018781 Tension-Type Headache A common primary headache disorder, characterized by a dull, non-pulsatile, diffuse, band-like (or vice-like) PAIN of mild to moderate intensity in the HEAD; SCALP; or NECK. The subtypes are classified by frequency and severity of symptoms. There is no clear cause even though it has been associated with MUSCLE CONTRACTION and stress. (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004: suppl 1) Headache, Tension,Psychogenic Headache,Stress Headache,Tension-Vascular Headache,Idiopathic Headache,Tension Headache,Headache, Idiopathic,Headache, Psychogenic,Headache, Stress,Headache, Tension-Type,Headache, Tension-Vascular,Headaches, Idiopathic,Headaches, Psychogenic,Headaches, Stress,Headaches, Tension,Headaches, Tension-Type,Headaches, Tension-Vascular,Idiopathic Headaches,Psychogenic Headaches,Stress Headaches,Tension Headaches,Tension Type Headache,Tension Vascular Headache,Tension-Type Headaches,Tension-Vascular Headaches

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