Citation

Register-Mihalik JK, Vander Vegt CB, Cools M, Carnerio K. Curr. Pain Headache Rep. 2018; 22(11): e75.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s11916-018-0724-2

PMID

30203116

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to (1) describe factors both pre- and post-injury that are associated with post-concussion headache, (2) describe the influence of post-concussion headache on recovery following concussion, and (3) provide potential post-concussion treatment options that may reduce the burden of headache, as well as other symptoms to facilitate recovery. RECENT FINDINGS: Various factors may be associated with post-concussion headache presentation. These may include pre-injury or historical factors such as sex, family and self-history of headache and migraine, concussion history, and mood disorders. In addition, post-injury presentation factors for consideration may include injury mechanism, symptom clusters, cervicogenic dysfunction, and post-concussion physiologic dysfunction. Despite this complex interplay of factors, many treatment options may improve headache symptoms and recovery post-concussion including rehabilitation programs focusing on deficits such as visual-vestibular dysfunction, sub-symptom threshold exercise, and potential pharmacological interventions. Concussion is a complex injury that results in a variety of sequelae with headache being one of the most common. Understanding factors related to post-concussion headache presentation and the available options for treatment may improve patient care and outcomes post-concussion.

Language: en

Keywords

Exercise; Post-traumatic headache