Benefits of Daily Exercise for Migraine Attacks
By: Brooklyn A. Bradley, BS; Medically edited by Dr. Deena Kuruvilla, MD
Exercise is beneficial for your physical and mental health. There is evidence to suggest that regular exercise can reduce the frequency of migraine attacks [1]. Exercise can also reduce stress, which is a common migraine trigger. In addition, exercise can regulate our sleep patterns and help our body release endorphins, both of which contribute to migraine frequency and duration [1]. In today’s blog post, we dive into the role of exercise in reducing migraine attacks.
In a 2011 randomized control study, researchers evaluated the effects of exercise on migraine prevention [2]. Adults with migraine exercised for 30 minutes, three times a week, and were compared to two groups: relaxation via recorded program, or daily topiramate use [2]. Topiramate is a medication used to manage and treat epilepsy and migraine [3]. Throughout the trial, the dosage of topiramate was slowly increased depending on the individual’s highest tolerable dose [2]. Migraine status, quality of life, level of physical activity, and oxygen uptake were evaluated across all groups. The researchers reported that there was a mean reduction of attacks in the exercise group, relaxation group, and topiramate group; however, there was no significant difference observed between the groups [2]. This randomized control study illustrates that exercise is an additive preventive treatment to daily medications which prevent migraine. [2].
A 2019 review of studies focused on the role of aerobic exercise as a non-pharmacological approach to commonly used preventive treatments in patients living with frequent migraine [4]. The researchers reported significant reductions in the number of migraine days per month following aerobic exercise. However, due to the heterogeneity of the outcome measurements, they were unable to establish other conclusions [4]. Thus, future studies need to be conducted to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise on pain intensity or duration of migraine attacks.
Researchers have investigated aerobic exercise due to its role in pain processing [5]. Exercise increases the body’s production of endorphins, which are a group of hormones (chemical messengers) secreted within the brain and nervous system [6]. These messengers help activate the body’s pain receptors, which help relieve pain, reduce stress, and improve mood [6].
Before starting an exercise program, it is important to check with your care team. There are a few safety steps to follow before, during, and after physical activity to help prevent headaches while exercising [5]. Fueling up, staying hydrating, incorporating warm up and cool down routines, and finding the right activities all contribute to maintaining a safe and effective exercise regimen.
We look forward to helping you at the Westport Headache Institute! – Dr. K
References:
- Managing Migraine with Exercise. In: American Migraine Foundation. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/managing-migraine-exercise/. Accessed 17 May 2023
- Varkey E, Cider Å, Carlsson J, Linde M (2011) Exercise as migraine prophylaxis: A randomized study using relaxation and topiramate as controls. Cephalalgia 31:1428–1438. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102411419681
- Fariba KA, Saadabadi A (2023) Topiramate. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL)
- Lemmens J, De Pauw J, Van Soom T, et al (2019) The effect of aerobic exercise on the number of migraine days, duration and pain intensity in migraine: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Headache and Pain 20:16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-019-0961-8
- Wolkin A (2021) Does Exercise Help Migraine Relief? What Research Shows. In: Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/does-exercise-help-migraines. Accessed 17 May 2023
- Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress. In: Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469. Accessed 17 May 2023