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The effects of two different intensities of aerobic training protocols on pain and serum neuro-biomarkers in women migraineurs: a randomized controlled trail

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Abstract

Objectives

We have a weak understanding of how aerobic training may influence migraine, and the optimal parameters for exercise regimens as migraine therapy are not clear. The objectives of this study were to assess, first, effects of two different intensities of aerobic exercise on migraine headache indices; second, serum neuro-biomarker in women migraineurs.

Methods

A total of 45 non-athlete female migraine patients were selected by a neurologist and randomly divided into three groups: control (CON), moderate-intensity aerobic training (MOD T), and high-intensity aerobic training (HIGH T). Before and after the training protocol, body composition factors, migraine pain indices, VO2max, and serum Adenylate-Cyclase Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) and Substance P (SP) were measured. Exercise training protocol includes two different intensities of aerobic exercise: Moderate (13–15 Borg Scale, 60–80% HRmax) and High (15–17 Borg Scale, 65–95% HRmax).

Results

Moderate-intensity aerobic training (MOD T) reduced headache intensity, frequency, and duration in women with migraine (p < 0.001, for all). Also, high-intensity aerobic training (HIGH T) reduced headache intensity, frequency, and duration (p < 0.001, for all). However, for headache intensity and duration, MOD T was effective rather than HIGH T (p < 0.001; p ≤ 0.05, respectively). In addition, neither MOD T nor HIGH T could not alter PACAP and SP contents (p = 0.712; p = 0.249, respectively).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that either MOD T or HIGH T could modify migraine pain indices but neither MOD T nor HIGH T could not alter the PACAP and SP contents in women with migraine.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

CGRP:

Calcitonin gene-related peptide

CON:

Control

CRP:

C-reactive protein

eCB:

Endocannabinoid

HRmax:

Heart rate maximum

HIGH T:

High-intensity aerobic training

IL-6:

Interleukine-6

NPY:

Neuropeptide Y

NO:

Nitric oxide

MOD T:

Moderate-intensity aerobic training

PACAP:

Pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating polypeptide

RCT:

Randomized controlled trial

SNL:

Spinal nerve ligation

SP:

Substance P

VAS:

Visual analog scale

VO2max:

Maximum volume of oxygen consumption

WHR:

Waist-to-hip ratio

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Council of Research, University of Allameh Tabataba’i (Iran), for providing financial supports.

Funding

This work was supported by the Allameh Tabataba’i University (Grant numbers: t/d/62).

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Author notes

  1. Rasoul Eslami and Abdolhoseein Parnow contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sport Science, AllamehTabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

    Rasoul Eslami

  2. Exercise Physiology Department, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

    Abdolhossein Parnow & Zahra Pairo

  3. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Nikaia, Greece

    Pantelis Nikolaidis

  4. Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Beat Knechtle

  5. Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, Vadianstrasse 26, 9001, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Beat Knechtle

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  1. Rasoul Eslami
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  2. Abdolhossein Parnow
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  3. Zahra Pairo
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  4. Pantelis Nikolaidis
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  5. Beat Knechtle
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Contributions

RE contributed to the data processing, statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript; AP and ZP conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, run training protocols, and gathered data. PN contributed to data analysis; and BK contributed to the final edition and managed. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and agree with the order of the presentation of the authors.

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Correspondence to Beat Knechtle.

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Communicated by Fabio Fischetti.

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Eslami, R., Parnow, A., Pairo, Z. et al. The effects of two different intensities of aerobic training protocols on pain and serum neuro-biomarkers in women migraineurs: a randomized controlled trail. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 609–620 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04551-x

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