Exercise just as good as drugs at preventing migraines, Swedish study suggests: Science Daily

ScienceDaily (Oct. 10, 2011) — Although exercise is often prescribed as a treatment for migraine, there has not previously been sufficient scientific evidence that it really works. However, research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has now shown that exercise is just as good as drugs at preventing migraines.

Doctors use a variety of different methods to prevent migraines these days: on the pharmaceutical side a drug based on the substance topiramate has proved effective, while non-medical treatments with well-documented effects include relaxation exercises.

No previous evidence 

Exercise is also frequently recommended as a treatment, though there has not been sufficient scientific evidence that it really has any effect on migraine patients.

In a randomized controlled study researchers from the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy have now analysed how well exercise works as a preventative treatment for migraines relative to relaxation exercises and topiramate.

40 minutes of exercise
Published in the journal Cephalalgia, the study involved 91 migraine patients, a third of whom were asked to exercise for 40 minutes three times a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist, with another third doing relaxation exercises, and the final third given topiramate. The study lasted for a total of three months, during which the patients’ migraine status, quality of life, aerobic capacity and level of phyical activity were evaluated before, during and after their treatment. Follow-ups were then carried out after three and six months.

Exercise just as effective
The results show that the number of migraines fell in all three groups. Interestingly, there was no difference in the preventative effect between the three treatments.
“Our conclusion is that exercise can act as an alternative to relaxations and topiramate when it comes to preventing migraines, and is particularly appropriate for patients who are unwilling or unable to take preventative medicines,” says Emma Varkey, the physiotherapist and doctoral student at the Sahlgrenska Academy who carried out the study.

Journal Reference:
E. Varkey, A. Cider, J. Carlsson, M. Linde. Exercise as migraine prophylaxis: A randomized study using relaxation and topiramate as controls. Cephalalgia, 2011; DOI: 10.1177/0333102411419681

Migraineur, a martial artist?

What I mean to say is that it is important for all of us to get physical exercise but it is imperative for the migraineur. Dopamine is released when we enter the moderate intensity of any exercise session. Its secretion is linked to increased heart rate and blood pressure. 

It may seem like a tall order for someone who may be migraining more than once a week, but it is all the more important for them to get some exercise on the days they are fine – even if it is just the 15 minutes. I have heard migraineurs say, that they are on a catch-up mode (with work) on the days they are pain-free. I say, catch-up with your body first. 

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Migraines In Women

Continuing on the same note of my earlier post of 28th November, 2008 (De-mystifying Migraines In Women)….

Any aerobic activity done for a minimum of thrice a week for at least half an hour will tell positively on the texture of your migraines. Yes, you heard me right. I am talking of the frequency and intensity of migraines. It is banal to come across the ‘thrice a week for 30 minutes’ formula, from health articles on the web to the instructor in the gym who aim to pick on your fat. But it has other not so famous but greatly positive side effects, like the one I mentioned. There are 5 ways in which aerobic activities help us reduce our migraine intensity. 

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Feel free to leave your feedback on this blog.

Best Regards