A longitudinal study of balance in migraineurs

CONCLUSION: Balance in migraineurs, even in those without vestibular symptoms, deteriorates slightly over 1 year in the most challenging test conditions, when measured with posturography. OBJECTIVE: To discover by a longitudinal study of a group of migraineurs and their controls, whether the well-known, mild imbalance found on posturography in migraineurs is static or progressive. METHODS: Posturographic measures of sway under incrementally more challenging conditions (up to eyes closed standing on a foam surface with the head extended) using the modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance, limits of stability test, and tandem gait tests in a group of 19 migraineurs and 19 age- and gender-matched controls, all of whom who had been tested over 1 year before. RESULTS: After 1 year migraineurs showed a slight but statistically significant deterioration: in postural sway especially, when measured with eyes closed standing on a foam surface with the head extended backwards; in reaction time; and in maximal excursion on the limits of the stability test; and perhaps in walk speed and step width on the tandem walk test.