Abstract

Objective: To compare the cervical range of motion of university students with and without episodic tension type headache.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 100 university students selected through non-probability convenient sampling. They were divided in two groups; 50 with tension type headache and 50 healthy students. Age between 18 and 25 and both genders were included. Students with history of migraine, any recent head trauma or any systemic illness were excluded. A standard goniometer was used for measuring cervical range of motion.
Results: Out of 100 participants, 48 (48%) were males and 52 (52%) females. Mean age was 21.62±1.63 years. There was a positive association of bilateral lateral flexion with episodic tension type headache (p=0.002). There is no association of episodic tension type headache with cervical flexion and extension, p-value 0.097 and 0.070, respectively.
Conclusion: Cervical range of motion in students with tension-type headache was only limited in bilateral lateral flexion and rest of the cervical range of motion were normal.

Key words: Episodic tension type headache, cervical range of motion, headache.