Postural stability and dizziness symptoms in patients with migraine without aura

Year 2026, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 72 - 79, 12.03.2026

Binnur Özkar , Emre Söylemez

https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906773

https://izlik.org/JA23TJ73JB

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to assess postural stability and dizziness symptoms in individuals diagnosed with migraine without aura.

Methods: The study group comprised 30 adult participants diagnosed with migraine, whereas the control group consisted of 30 adults without a migraine diagnosis. Participants’ migraine characteristics were assessed, and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) along with the 24-hour Migraine Quality of Life Questionnaire (24-h MQoLQ scores) were administered. Participants’ balance abilities were evaluated under four different conditions using a static force platform. In addition, the severity of psychometric dizziness was assessed with the Visual Dizziness Inventory–Symptom Severity (VDI-SS), and fall frequency was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale.

Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in mediolateral and anteroposterior postural sway in conditions I, II, III, and IV (p>0.05). The migraine group had significantly worse VDI-SS scores compared to the control group (p<0.001). In addition, patients in the migraine group reported a higher frequency of falls in the past year (p=0.001). Fall frequency was positively correlated with migraine duration (r= 0.3, p=0.021) and attack frequency (r=0.4, p<0.001) but negatively correlated with 24-h MQoLQ scores (r=-0.6, p<0.001). VDI-SS scores were negatively correlated with migraine duration (r = –0.4, p = 0.001), attack frequency (r=-0.6, p<0.001), and MIDAS (r=-0.4, p=0.018), while they showed a positive correlation with 24-h MQoLQ (r=0.6, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Migraine without aura did not impair static postural stability but was associated with greater subjective dizziness, highlighting the need to assess both subjective symptoms and objective balance measures.

Keywords

Migraine , aura , balance , static , psychometric

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