A longitudinal study of balance in migraineurs

Abstract

Conclusion: Balance in migraineurs, even in those without vestibular symptoms, deteriorates slightly over 1 year in the most challenging test conditions, when measured with posturography. Objective: To discover by a longitudinal study of a group of migraineurs and their controls, whether the well-known, mild imbalance found on posturography in migraineurs is static or progressive. Methods: Posturographic measures of sway under incrementally more challenging conditions (up to eyes closed standing on a foam surface with the head extended) using the modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance, limits of stability test, and tandem gait tests in a group of 19 migraineurs and 19 age- and gender-matched controls, all of whom who had been tested over 1 year before. Results: After 1 year migraineurs showed a slight but statistically significant deterioration: in postural sway especially, when measured with eyes closed standing on a foam surface with the head extended backwards; in reaction time; and in maximal excursion on the limits of the stability test; and perhaps in walk speed and step width on the tandem walk test.

Keywords::

• Migraine
• posturography
• postural sway

Acknowledgments

Our thanks to Mr Michael Todd who designed and prepared Figure 1 and to Gül Ergör MD for statistical assistance.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.