April 14, 2009 – Who would think of being physically active when they have a migraine? However, it seems that doing certain exercises can decrease the frequency and intensity of these throbbing headaches.
This is what Swedish researchers found in a small study involving 26 people with migraine and little inclination to physical activity.1.
For 12 weeks, they followed an exercise program that included a 15-minute warm-up, followed by 20 minutes of moderate-intensity indoor cycling. Each of the three weekly sessions ended with a gradual return to rest, which consisted of 5 minutes of light effort.
First important observation: Except for one participant, no one experienced a migraine immediately after a training session.
Likewise, all participants improved their oxygen uptake capacity and cardiovascular health without making their migraines worse.
On the contrary, the migraines they had after the 12 weeks of the program were less frequent and less intense than at the beginning. They also reported a significant improvement in their quality of life.
Due to the small number of participants, the results cannot be extrapolated to the entire population. That’s why the researchers want to conduct a larger study to better compare the effects of aerobic activity on migraine.
Carole Boulé – PasseportSanté.net
1. Varkey E, et al, A Study to Evaluate the Feasibility of an Aerobic Exercise Program in Patients With Migraine, Headache, April 2009, Vol. 49, No. 4, 563-570.
