--- title: Are neck problems linked to migraines during menstrual periods? description: Yes. Women with perimenstrual migraines had more neck problems including reduced movement, tight muscles, and muscle tenderness. Tight muscles, reduced nerve url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/an-exploratory-study-to-determine-the-relationship-between-cervical-dysfunction-2015/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are neck problems linked to migraines during menstrual periods? Survey study, 2015 # Are neck problems linked to migraines during menstrual periods? Yes. Women with perimenstrual migraines had more neck problems including reduced movement, tight muscles, and muscle tenderness. Tight muscles, reduced nerve flexibility, and upper spine stiffness were associated with notably higher migraine risk. Moderate study design 40 women with perimenstrual migraines and 46 women without migraines ## What they did Researchers compared 40 women with perimenstrual migraines to 46 women without migraines. They asked about neck pain and stiffness, then conducted blinded physical exams assessing posture, neck movement, muscle strength and tightness, tender points, nerve flexibility, and spine joint movement. ## What they found Women with migraines reported greater neck pain and stiffness. They had reduced neck rotation, tight muscles in the neck and upper back, more tender points in neck muscles, and reduced nerve flexibility. Tight neck muscles increased migraine risk 2.4 to 6.7 fold. Reduced nerve flexibility increased risk 5.8 to 10.7 fold. Increased stiffness in the upper spine increased risk 17 fold. Posture and muscle strength showed no clear differences. ## What it means for you The study suggests neck problems, particularly muscle tightness and stiff joints, are associated with perimensstrual migraines. Women with these migraines might benefit from neck assessment and treatment. However, the study is small and cross-sectional, so it cannot prove neck problems cause migraines or that treating them would reduce frequency. 2.4-6.7x Migraine risk increase with tight neck muscles 5.8-10.7x Risk increase with reduced nerve flexibility 17x Risk increase with upper spine stiffness ## About the study Original title An Exploratory Study to Determine the Relationship between Cervical Dysfunction and Perimenstrual Migraines Authors Horwitz S, Stewart A Journal Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada Year 2015 Study design Survey study What was tested None - observational comparison study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2012-47](https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2012-47) ## Topics [Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Study, 2001 Does estrogen or progesterone affect magnesium levels in brain blood vessels? Survey study, 2025 Does menstruation affect how well women perform at work? Survey study, 2024 What attitudes do women have about menstruation and what affects these attitudes? Randomised trial, 2022 Does emotion-focused group therapy help women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2018 Does how women think about menstruation affect their PMS symptoms? Non-randomised trial, 2010 How accurate are different methods for diagnosing menstrual migraine? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗