Reduced flexion rotation test in women with chronic and episodic migraine.

• C1/C2 hypomobility is an important finding in women with migraine and is related to migraine chronicity. • Mobility of the C1/C2 segment is influenced by neck pain related-disability. • Chronic migraine patients have a reduced global cervical range of motion. To compare flexion rotation test and global active cervical mobility in women with chronic migraine, episodic migraine, and headache-free controls. The influence of neck pain-related disability on the flexion rotation test was also analyzed. Women with chronic migraine (n = 25), episodic migraine (n = 30), and those who were headache-free (n = 30) were evaluated. Upper cervical mobility was measured using the flexion rotation test and global active mobility was assessed using the cervical range of motion device. Neck pain related-disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index. Statistical analyses were performed using a MANOVA test, prevalence ratios, and linear regression. Chronic (right, MD: −15°; 95%CI: −21° to −11°; left, MD: −13°; 95%CI: −20° to −12°) and episodic (right, MD: −8°; 95%CI: −13° to −4°; left, MD: −8°; 95%CI: −12° to −5°) migraine groups achieved lower flexion rotation test mobility bilaterally than headache-free women. Only chronic migraine was associated with a lower global cervical range of motion compared to that of headache-free women during flexion, (MD: −8°; 95%CI: −15° to −1°), extension (MD: −13°; 95%CI: −20° to −4°), right lateral flexion (MD: −4°; 95%CI: −9° to −0.2°), left lateral flexion (MD: −6°; 95%CI: −10° to −2°), right rotation (MD: −9°; 95%CI: −15° to −4°), and left rotation (MD: −8°; 95%CI: −13° to −2°). Migraine was associated with a 2.85-fold increase in the risk of a positive flexion rotation test. Flexion Rotation Test was influenced by disability-related neck pain (R 2 = 19.1; p = 0.001). Women with migraine have a lower upper cervical range of motion than headache-free women. Women with chronic migraine demonstrated reduced global cervical range of motion when compared to headache-free women. Migraine was associated with in increased likelihood of a positive Flexion Rotation Test. Reduction in mobility was influenced by migraine frequency and disability-related neck pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]