Exercise Program Reduces Migraine

Allison Gandey
From Medscape Medical News

April 15, 2009 — An exercise program has shown promise in decreasing the frequency of migraine and improving quality of life, report researchers. Even though physical activity can trigger migraine in some, new study results suggest the aerobic intervention can be well tolerated and even improve outcomes.

"While the optimal amount of exercise for patients with migraine remains unknown, our evaluated program can now be tested further and compared with pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to see if exercise can prevent migraine," lead author Emma Varkey, PhD, from the Cephalea Headache Center, in Gothenburg, Sweden, said in a news release.

The study is published in the April issue of Headache.

Significant Improvement in Quality of Life

Researchers studied 26 patients from the Swedish headache clinic. The exercise program, based on indoor cycling, was performed 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The program was developed to improve maximum oxygen uptake in untrained patients with migraine.

The research team evaluated migraine status, oxygen uptake, adverse effects, and quality of life. They found there was no deterioration in migraine status, and in fact, during the last month of treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number of migraine attacks, the number of days with migraine per month, mean headache intensity, and amount of headache medication used compared with baseline.

Investigators also found that after the exercise program, maximum oxygen uptake increased from 32.9 mL/kg/minute to 36.2 mL/kg/minute (P = .044). None of the patients reported adverse effects. But a patient experienced a migraine with aura that started immediately after training on 1 occasion.

As measured by the Migraine-Specific Quality-of-Life questionnaire, researchers report a significant improvement in patients completing the exercise program.

Results Encouraging, but Inconclusive

Individuals with headache and migraine typically are less physically active than those without headache, the investigators point out. Patients with migraine often avoid exercise, resulting in less aerobic endurance and flexibility.

"The positive results reported in migraine status and quality of life are encouraging but inconclusive, since this was not a blinded study and there was no control group," the researchers write. "Well-designed studies of exercise in patients with migraine are imperative."

The researchers have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Headache. 2009;49:563-570. Abstract