Modulation of Central Nociceptive Transmission by Manual Pressure Techniques in Patients with Migraine: An Observational Study

Background: Manual pressure in the upper cervical spine is used to provoke and reduce the familiar migraine headache. Information is scarce on the segmental levels, myofascial structure provocation, and reduction occurrences. The required dosage (amount of pressure, number of repetitions, and duration) has not been objectified yet. Methods: Prospective observational study. Thirty patients with migraine were examined interictally. Manual pressure was applied at four sites: the posterior arch of C1, the articular pillar of C2, the rectus capitis posterior major muscle, and the obliquus capitis inferior muscle, bilaterally. On sites where the familiar headache was provoked, the pressure was sustained to induce pain reduction (three repetitions). Provocation of familiar headache (yes/no), headache intensity (numerical pain rating scale), time to obtain a reduction of the headache (seconds), and applied pressure (g/cm(2)) were recorded. Results: Provocation of the familiar headache occurred at the posterior arches C1 in 92%, and at one of the articular pillars of C2 in 65.3% of cases. At one of the rectus capitis major muscles, the familiar headache was provoked in 84.6% of cases; at one of the oblique capitis inferior muscles, the familiar headache was provoked in 76.9% of cases. The applied mean pressure ranged from 0.82 to 1.2 kg/cm(2). Maintaining the pressure reduced headache pain intensity significantly between the start and end of each of the three consecutive trials (p < 0.04). This reduction occurred faster in the third application than in the first application (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Manual pressure at upper cervical segments provokes familiar referred migraine headaches, with low manual pressure. Maintaining the pressure reduces the referred head pain significantly, indicating modulation of central nociceptive transmission.