Logo image
Scalp tenderness and sensitivity to pain in migraine and tension headache
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Scalp tenderness and sensitivity to pain in migraine and tension headache

P.D. Drummond
Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, Vol.27(1), pp.45-50
1987
url
Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

Pressure-pain threshold was assessed in the forehead, temples, occiput and neck of 102 patients with migraine or tension headache, and in 35 nonheadache control subjects of similar age and sex distribution. Pain sensitivity to the application of a weighted blade to the fingers was also assessed. Tenderness was greater in patients than in controls, particularly at the site of migraine or tension headache, and to a lesser extent in other areas of the scalp. Scalp tenderness persisted for several days after headache had subsided. The threshold for pain in the fingers was greater during headache than during the headache-free interval but did not differ from pain threshold in control subjects. Pain in the fingers increased more rapidly in patients with episodically-recurring tension headaches than in other patient categories or control subjects. These findings demonstrate that scalp tenderness is not due to a general increase in sensitivity to pain during migraine. In contrast, diffuse disruption of central pain modulating systems may be involved in the pathophysiology of episodically-recurring tension headaches.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

Metrics

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.247 Migraines & Headaches
1.247.461 Migraine Mechanisms
Web Of Science research areas
Clinical Neurology
ESI research areas
Neuroscience & Behavior
Logo image