Musculoskeletal Neck Impairment in Headaches Attributed to Rhinosinusitis

Design: Observational, case control Background: A recent study showed neck pain, neck muscle weakness, and limited neck range of motion in individuals who reported having sinus headaches. These impairments are also associated with cervicogenic headaches (headaches originating in the neck), but had not previously been shown in people with sinus headaches.

Because the individuals in this previous study self-diagnosed their sinus headaches, it is possible that they did not have sinus headaches but rather had a different kind of headache. It is unknown whether or not individuals who have been diagnosed with sinus headaches according to diagnostic criteria also present with musculoskeletal impairments.

Purpose 1: The purpose of this study is to determine if musculoskeletal neck impairments are present in individuals diagnosed with headaches attributed to rhinosinusitis (sinus headaches) compared to people without headaches. Question: Do people with diagnosed with headaches attributed to rhinosinusitis have neck pain or impairments in neck strength, neck range of motion, or segmental neck joint mobility compared to people without headaches?

Background for question 2: Upper cervical range of motion can be measured using the flexion-rotation test or the side bend rotation test. The side bend rotation test has been suggested as potentially more useful in individuals with hyper-laxity, however, has not been examined in a symptomatic population.

Purpose 2: To compare the side bend rotation test to the cervical flexion rotation test and manual joint assessment in people with varying degrees of joint laxity. Question: What is the diagnostic accuracy of the side bend rotation test compared to the index tests of the flexion rotation test and manual joint assessment?