The association between migraine and physical exercise

Background There is an unmet need of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for migraine patients. Exercise can be used in the treatment of several pain conditions, including. However, what exact role exercise plays in migraine prevention is unclear. Here, we review the associatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of headache and pain Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 83 - 9
Main Authors:	Amin, Faisal Mohammad, Aristeidou, Stavroula, Baraldi, Carlo, Czapinska-Ciepiela, Ewa K., Ariadni, Daponte D., Di Lenola, Davide, Fenech, Cherilyn, Kampouris, Konstantinos, Karagiorgis, Giorgos, Braschinsky, Mark, Linde, Mattias
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Milan Springer Milan 10-09-2018 Springer Nature B.V BMC
Subjects:	Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood Calcitonin Calcitonin gene-related peptide Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - blood Cannabinoids Endocannabinoids - blood Endorphins Exercise Exercise - physiology Exercise headache Exercise Therapy - methods Headache Hot topics in headache and pain from the EHF-SAS Humans Internal Medicine Lactic acid Medicine Medicine & Public Health Migraine Migraine Disorders - blood Migraine Disorders - diagnosis Migraine Disorders - therapy Migraine pathophysiology Migraine treatment Neurology Neuropeptides Orexins Orexins - blood Pain Pain Medicine Population studies Prophylaxis Review Review Article Trigger factor Exercise headache Migraine pathophysiology Migraine treatment
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Summary:	Background There is an unmet need of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for migraine patients. Exercise can be used in the treatment of several pain conditions, including. However, what exact role exercise plays in migraine prevention is unclear. Here, we review the associations between physical exercise and migraine from an epidemiological, therapeutical and pathophysiological perspective. Methods The review was based on a primary literature search on the PubMed using the search terms “migraine and exercise”. Results Low levels of physical exercise and high frequency of migraine has been reported in several large population-based studies. In experimental studies exercise has been reported as a trigger factor for migraine as well as migraine prophylaxis. Possible mechanisms for how exercise may trigger migraine attacks, include acute release of neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene-related peptide or alternation of hypocretin or lactate metabolism. Mechanisms for migraine prevention by exercise may include increased beta-endorphin, endocannabinoid and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levers in plasma after exercise. Conclusion In conclusion, it seems that although exercise can trigger migraine attacks, regular exercise may have prophylactic effect on migraine frequency. This is most likely due to an altered migraine triggering threshold in persons who exercise regularly. However, the frequency and intensity of exercise that is required is still an open question, which should be addressed in future studies to delineate an evidence-based exercise program to prevent migraine in sufferers.
ISSN:	1129-2369 1129-2377
DOI:	10.1186/s10194-018-0902-y