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The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Migraine
Author(s) -
Lockett DonnaMarie C.,
Campbell J.F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1992.hed3201050.x
Subject(s) - aerobic exercise , physical therapy , migraine , distress , medicine , statistical significance , physical fitness , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , clinical psychology
SYNOPSIS A six‐week cardiovascular exercise program was provided to 11 subjects classified as experiencing classical migraines, while 9 similarly‐classified subjects served as waiting‐list controls. Measures included the Canadian Aerobic Fitness test, a headache diary to record the Frequency, Intensity, and Duration of migraine episodes and the Pain‐Severity, Affective‐Distress, and Support scales of the West Haven‐Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI). Measures were taken on both treatment and control subjects before, mid‐way through, and upon termination of the first aerobic program, as well as after a two week follow‐up. The aerobic classes were effective in significantly improving cardiovascular fitness. Pain Severity decreased significantly for those receiving aerobic training, who also showed (nonsignificant) trends, over the measurement periods, toward reductions in Affective Distress as well as the Frequency, Intensity and Duration of migraines, but these trends failed to reach statistical significance. Control subjects demonstrated no systematic changes in any of the dependent measures. These results suggest possible long‐term benefits of aerobic fitness in the management of classical migraines.