Exercise can prevent migraine

Sat Oct 8, 2011 5:22PM GMT

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A new study has found that regular aerobic work can be as effective as relaxation therapy and medications in preventing migraine headache.

Previous findings had suggested mediation, relaxation therapy and antiepileptic drug topiramate as the best choices for preventing migraine.

Scientists at the University of Gothenburg studied 91 women aged 18 to 65 years who suffered from migraine headaches two to eight times per month, Reuters reported.

During the three-month study, the participants either did aerobic exercise on a stationary bike for 40 minutes three times per week or received a standard form of relaxation therapy or a daily dose of topiramate.

According to the results published in the journal Cephalalgia, all three preventive methods reduced the frequency of some women's migraine attacks by as much as three quarters, although the average reduction was more modest.

“This non-pharmacological approach may therefore be an option for the prophylactic treatment of migraine in patients who do not benefit from or do not want daily medication,” wrote researchers.

“The only parameter where topiramate was better compared with exercise and relaxation was the reduction of pain intensity,” said lead researcher Dr. Emma Varkey. “On the other hand, the non-pharmacological options were free from adverse events and the exercise group increased oxygen uptake, which is very positive.”

Other notable finding was that none of the women in the relaxation group or exercise group reported side effects while 33 percent of those who consumed topiramate experienced adverse effects and even 3 of the 8 disturbed patients left the study because of the severity of the symptoms.

The most commonly reported side effects included numbness or tingling, fatigue, depressed mood, vertigo and constipation.

Finding that exercise is not inferior to topiramate as a prophylactic measure is "of great value," because patients often seek non-pharmacological options for migraine, researchers highlighted.

“From a wider health-based perspective, it should be stressed that patients with migraine are less physically active than the general population, and that exercise has positive effects in terms of general well-being and the prevention of disease,” they added.

“Additional and larger studies are, of course, needed to verify our results and to gain evidence for exercise as migraine treatment, but our results are hopeful,” Varkey suggested.

SJM/TE