EP160 Postural parameters and proprioception in individuals with and without chronic headache: a pilot study

<div id="sec-1" class="subsection" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: interfaceregular, HelveticaNeue, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><p id="p-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; line-height: 2.5rem;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: 700;">Background and Aims</span>&nbsp;Headache disorders are complex and multifactorial. Despite research on head posture and headache, comprehensive analyses of multiple postural and proprioceptive parameters across the body are lacking.This pilot study aimed to compare foot posture, lower extremity flexibility, spinal angles (lumbar, thoracic, cervical), trunk position sense, and forward head posture between individuals with headache and asymptomatic controls. </div><div id="sec-2" class="subsection" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: interfaceregular, HelveticaNeue, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><p id="p-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; line-height: 2.5rem;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: 700;">Methods</span>&nbsp;A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted with (n:36) participants divided into two groups: individuals with headache (n:18) and matched controls without headache (n:18). Foot posture was assessed using the Foot Posture Index (FPI) and Navicular Drop Test (NDT). Lower extremity flexibility was measured through standardized goniometric assessment. Spinal angles were evaluated using digital inclinometry at lumbar, thoracic, and cervical regions. Trunk position sense was assessed by means of repositioning error tests with a dual inclinometer. Forward head posture was evaluated by measuring the distance between the tragus and malleolus from the lateral side. Between-group differences and correlations were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods with significance set at p&lt;0.05. </div><div id="sec-3" class="subsection" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: interfaceregular, HelveticaNeue, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><p id="p-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; line-height: 2.5rem;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: 700;">Results</span>&nbsp;No significant differences were found between groups in trunk position sense, flexibility tests, spinal angles, and foot posture measures (p&gt;0.05), except for left gastrocnemius flexibility where controls showed better performance (p&lt;0.05). In headache sufferers, pain severity did not correlate with trunk position sense or lower extremity flexibility. However, lumbar and cervical spinal angles significantly correlated with pain symptoms (p&lt;0.05). The tragus to malleolus distance correlated with headache medication consumption (p&lt;0.05). <p id="p-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; line-height: 2.5rem;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: 700;">Conclusions</span>&nbsp;The findings suggest that lumbar spine alignment, gastrocnemius flexibility, and cervical angle may influence headache occurrence and severity. In individuals with headache, more effective solutions can be developed in the treatment of headache by taking into account the alignment disorders of the lumbar region and especially the cervical region and treatment plans for these disorders. </div>