Exercise Not Able To Reduce Migraine Attacks
Researchers at the University of Regensburg, Germany find that exercise does not help to reduce the migraine attacks or their duration. However exercise can cut down the intensity of the headache pain in those who suffer from migraines. The study was published in the journal Headache.
In the current review, the researchers examined whether recommendations for exercise in migraine therapy are based on adequate data to meet the requirements of an evidence-based modern migraine therapy. The review summarizes all available studies and case reports that investigated exercise and endurance sports in migraine therapy. A total of eight studies and four case reports were included in the review. The researchers report that most studies did not find a significant reduction of headache attacks or duration due to regular exercise. Six of the studies demonstrated a reduction of pain intensity during the intervention.
Dr. Volker Busch, of the University of Regensburg, Germany, said,
“Most of these recommendations refer to some anecdotal reports or observational studies in literature stating that regular exercise can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine or even eliminate it completely. Due to numerous methodological limitations (uncertain diagnoses, small case numbers, mostly no control group, no detailed information about the headache before and after the treatment, etc.) the effect of aerobic exercise in migraine can only carefully be estimated in the reviewed studies.”
Source: Medline Plus
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