Exercise Does Not Help Migraine

Exercise does not reduce the frequency of migraine attacks or their duration. So says the Dr. Volker Busch, of the University of Regensburg, Germany.

He wrote a review of all published studies and reports that "investigated exercise and endurance sports in migraine therapy." Eight such studies and four case reports were summarized.

Good doctor does note that "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 ... exercise in migraine can only carefully be estimated in the reviewed studies".

Dr. Busch also called for more studies done on the subject. Good luck with that - not a whole lot of migraine people are likely to sign-up for a study that involves prancing around or lifting weights. Especially for cases when the exercise itself is one of a primary migraine triggers.

So, as far as we know, exercise does our migraines no good. Still, my gentle readers, don't take it as a green light to never leave your couch. Some moving about might not reduce the frequency of the attacks but it keeps you fit.

Interestingly enough, "Six of the studies demonstrated a reduction of pain intensity during the intervention." Well, that's something. To yours truly, it's an indication that a fitter body can deal with the stress of a migraine headache better than an un-fit one.

With our sedentary life-styles, junk-food and all the harsh meds we take, every little bit helps. Even if it's only a short walk.


link: Exercise unlikely to curb migraine pain: experts