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Advances in Exercise in the Clinical Trials of Migraine: A Scoping Review

  • Chronic Daily Headache (S-J Wang and S-P Chen, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aimed to investigate emerging evidence regarding the effectiveness of exercise for migraines, focusing on the results of recent trials. Additionally, it explored the possibility of exercise as a treatment for migraines.

Recent Findings

Between 2020 and 2023, five, four, one, and two trials were conducted regarding the effect of aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, Tai Chi, and yoga, respectively, on migraine; all studies showed significant effects. Two trials on aerobic exercise showed that high-intensity exercise was similar to or slightly more effective than moderate-intensity exercise as a treatment for migraines. Three trials on anaerobic exercise reported its effectiveness in preventing migraines.

Summary

Regarding efficacy, side effects, and health benefits, aerobic exercises and yoga are potentially beneficial strategies for the prevention of migraines. Further studies are needed to develop evidence-based exercise programs for the treatment of migraines.

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Data Availability

Data generated in this study is available from the corresponding author upon request.

Abbreviations

AE:

Aerobic exercise

AMIT:

Amitriptyline

BAI:

Beck Anxiety Index

BDI:

Beck Depression Index

CCT:

Controlled clinical trial

CM:

Chronic migraine

CMSE:

Craniocervical muscle-strengthening exercise

CTTH:

Chronic tension type headache

DB + J:

Diaphragmatic breathing and jogging

EM:

Episodic migraine

EME + J:

Eye movement exercise and jogging

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HIT:

High-intensity training

HIT-6:

Headache Impact Test-6

HR:

Heart rate

MCT:

Moderate-intensity continuous training

MIDAS:

Migraine Disability Assessment Test

MIT:

Moderate-intensity training

NOS:

Newcastle–Ottawa Scale

OR:

Odds ratio

PRISMA:

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

RCT:

Randomized controlled trial

SD:

Standard deviation

SMD:

Standardized mean difference

Supp:

Supplements

TTH:

Tension type headache

VD:

Vitamin D supplements

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Papers of particular interest and those published recently have been highlighted as follows: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology Research and Development Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant no.: HV22C0106), and a National Research Foundation of Korea grant from the Korean government (Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology) (grant no.: 2022R1A2C1091767). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.

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  1. Department of Neurology, Severance Hospital Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea

    Woo-Seok Ha & Min Kyung Chu

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  1. Woo-Seok Ha
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Contributions

WSH conceptualized and designed the study, analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript. MKC conceptualized and designed the study; collected, analyzed, and interpreted the data; and reviewed the manuscript. All the authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Min Kyung Chu.

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Conflict of Interest

MKC was the site investigator for a multicenter trial sponsored by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Allergan Korea, and the Ildong Pharmaceutical Company, has received lecture honoraria from Eli Lilly and Company, Handok-Teva, and the Ildong Pharmaceutical Company over the past 24 months, and has received grants from the Yonsei University College of Medicine (6–2021-0229), the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) (HV22C0106), and an NRF grant from the Korean government (MSIT) (2022R1A2C1091767). WSH has no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Ha, WS., Chu, M.K. Advances in Exercise in the Clinical Trials of Migraine: A Scoping Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-024-01269-9

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