The association between headache and low back pain: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundTo systematically review studies quantifying the association between primary chronic headaches and persistent low back pain (LBP).Main textWe searched five electronic databases. We included case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies that included a headache and back pain free group, reporting on any association between persistent LBP and primary headache disorders. Methodological quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Our primary outcome was the association between primary headache disorders and persistent LBP. Our secondary outcomes were any associations between severity of LBP and severity of headache, and the relationship between specific headache sub-types classified as per International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) criteria and persistent LBP.We included 14 studies. The sizes of the studies ranged from 88 participants to a large international study with 404, 206 participants. Odds ratios for the association were between 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–2.11) and 8.00 (95% CI 5.3–12.1). Study heterogeneity meant statistical pooling was not possible. Only two studies presented data investigating persistent LBP and chronic headache disorders in accordance with ICDH criteria.ConclusionsWe identified a positive association between persistent LBP and primary headache disorders. The quality of the review findings is limited by diversity of populations, study designs and uncertainly about headache and LBP definitions.Trial registrationPROSPERO 2018 CRD42018086557.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s10194-019-1031-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gray and white matter abnormalities in primary trigeminal neuralgia with and without neurovascular compression

“…Medial temporal lobe plays a role in sensitization-like processes related to the affective component of pain, which may be linked to impaired memory in fibromyalgia [24]. The association among TN, migraine, cluster headache, and low back pain in epidemiology and pathogenesis has been acknowledged [25][26][27]. Thalamic-somatosensory dysfunction and dysrhythmia have been proved to be associated with TN, migraine and low back pain, and the abnormal functional connectivity between the thalamus and attentional cerebral networks has been substantially proved at rest during migraine attacks [10,[28][29][30][31].…”

Headache and musculoskeletal pain in school children are associated with uncorrected vision problems and need for glasses: a case–control study

“…Headaches and spinal pain are associated 36 . Knowledge regarding risk factors and interventions for musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents is limited.…”

Predictors of pain in general ageing populations: results from a multi-country analysis based on ATHLOS harmonized database

“…Pain is one of the most common symptoms in general populations and is the core symptom of many common, and often comorbid, clinical conditions. In fact, the prevalence of pain-associated conditions is between 10% and 60% approximately, with the highest rates being observed for tension-type headache [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Data referred to general populations are on the contrary almost lacking.…”