Exercise reduces migraine suffering

Certain exercise programmes can significantly decrease migraine intensity and frequency, the results of a Swedish study have indicated.

While physical exercise has been shown to trigger migraine headaches among sufferers, this study describes an exercise programme based on indoor cycling that decreased the frequency of headaches and improved quality of life.

For the study, a sample of migraine sufferers were examined before, during and after an aerobic exercise intervention. Indoor cycling was chosen because it is a continuous aerobic exercise. The exercise was designed to improve maximal oxygen uptake without worsening the patients’ migraines.

According to the researchers, there was no worsening of migraine at any time during the study. During the last month of treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number of migraine attacks, the number of days with migraine every month, headache intensity and the amount of headache medication used.

Individuals with headache and migraine typically are less physically active than those without migraine, the researchers remarked. Patients with migraine often avoid exercise, resulting in less aerobic endurance and flexibility. Therefore, the researchers believe that more studies of exercise in patients with migraine are imperative.

“While the optimal amount of exercise for patients with migraine remains unknown, our evaluated program can now be tested further to see if exercise can prevent migraine,” said Dr. Emma Varkey of the Cephalea Headache Centre, co-author of the study.

The study has been published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.

[Posted: Sun 29/03/2009]