Does AEROBIC EXERCISE have any affect on MIGRAINE?

Add a comment

Get FORMED: 

This systematic literature review began with an initial screening process that yielded 265 articles which were narrowed down to 6 deemed appropriate for inclusion [5 RCT’s, 1 controlled clinical trial (CCT)].  Subjects were included if they were diagnosed with migraine with or w/o aura [ICHD-3, primary headache, 1.1 or 1.2].

The interventions included aerobic and/or exercise therapy performed for no less than 6 weeks.  Studies were excluded if they included manual therapy or medication as stand-alone treatments.

Outcome measures included number of migraine days, attack frequency, pain intensity or duration of migraine attacks.

The aerobic exercises utilized included:

  1. A walking program [1 study]
  2. Combination walking, cross-training, jogging and cycling [1 study]
  3. A jogging protocol [2 studies]
  4. A behavioral weight loss program [1 study]
  5. A cycling program [1 study]

Heart rate, RPE using a BORG scale and VO2-max were monitored to assure that subjects were in the “aerobic zone.”

Subjects kept headache diaries to document the aforementioned outcome measures.  The authors concluded that, “(m)oderate quality evidence indicates that in patients with migraine aerobic exercise therapy decreases the number of migraine days. Low quality evidence indicates that aerobic exercise can decrease pain intensity or duration of migraine attacks.”

 2019 Feb 14;20(1):16.

The effect of aerobic exercise on the number of migraine days, duration and pain intensity in migraine: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Lemmens J1, De Pauw J1, Van Soom T1, Michiels S1,2,3, Versijpt J4, van Breda E1, Castien R5,6, De Hertogh W7.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In patients with frequent migraine, prophylactic treatments are used. Patients often request non-pharmacological alternatives. One treatment option can be aerobic exercise. The value of aerobic exercise as prophylactic treatment however needs to be determined.

METHODS:

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate the result of aerobic exercise on the number of migraine days, duration and pain intensity in patients with migraine. After screening three online databases, PubMed, Cochrane library and Web of Science, using predefined in- and exclusion criteria, six studies were retained. Pooling of data was performed when possible.

RESULTS:

Significant reductions in the number of migraine days after aerobic exercise treatment were found with a mean reduction of 0.6 ± 0.3 migraine days/month. Other outcomes were too variable to pool due to heterogeneity of outcome measurements. Unpooled data revealed small to moderate reductions in attack duration (20-27%) and pain intensity (20-54%) after aerobic exercise intervention. Various exercise intensities are applied.

CONCLUSION:

There is moderate quality evidence that in patients with migraine aerobic exercise therapy can decrease the number of migraine days. No conclusion for pain intensity or duration of attacks can be drawn. Effect sizes are small due to a lack of uniformity. For future studies, we recommend standardized outcome measures and sufficiently intense training programs.

Leave a comment