Prospective cohort study of routine exercise and headache outcomes among adults with episodic migraine

Exercise in a natural environment increases program compliance in people with chronic migraine: A pilot cross-over randomized trial

Adverse side effects from pharmacological treatments cause people with migraine to delay or avoid taking medication. Exercise is effective, but the effect of environment is unknown. The purpose was to determine if a natural environment affects monthly migraine load. Sedentary individuals (8 female, 1 non-binary) who experienced migraines participated. Participants completed one month of exercise (3 x week, 30-min, 60-70% estimated HRmax) indoors as well as in a natural outdoor environment in a randomized counterbalanced order. Migraine load was determined using the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) at the beginning and end of each month. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. No interactions were evident for HIT-6 (p = 0.80), MIDAS (p = 0.72), migraine days (p = 0.508), or pain intensity (p = 0.66). No main effects were noted. Compliance was greater in the outdoor environment, with more exercise sessions completed in nature (Indoor = 72%, Outdoor = 90%, p < 0.001). Exercise environment did not impact MIDAS or HIT-6 questionnaire results, number of migraine days, or pain intensity. While there was no reduction in migraine load, it is possible that other health benefits were experienced due to greater compliance in a natural environment.

Therapeutic Exercise Parameters, Considerations, and Recommendations for Migraine Treatment: An International Delphi Study

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to reach consensus about the best exercise prescription parameters, the most relevant considerations, and other recommendations that could be useful for prescribing exercise to patients with migraine.

METHODS

This was an international study conducted between April 9, 2022 and June 30, 2022. An expert panel of health care and exercise professionals was assembled, and a 3-round Delphi survey was performed. Consensus was reached for each item if an Aiken V Validity Index ≥ 0.7 was obtained.

RESULTS

The study included 14 experts who reached consensus on 42 items by the third round. The most approved prescription parameters were 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per session, 3 days per week of moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise, and relaxation and breathing exercises for 5 to 20 minutes every day. When considering an exercise prescription, initial exercise supervision should progress to patient self-regulation; catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, headache-related disability, anxiety, depression, physical activity baseline level, and self-efficacy could influence the patients' exercise participation and efficacy; and gradual exposure to exercise could help improve these psychological variables and increase exercise efficacy. Yoga and concurrent exercise were also included as recommended interventions.

CONCLUSION

From the experts in the study, exercise prescriptions should be adapted to patients with migraine considering different exercise modalities, such as moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, relaxation, yoga, and concurrent exercise, based on the patients' preferences and psychological considerations, level of physical activity, and possible adverse effects.

IMPACT

The consensus reached by the experts can help prescribe exercise accurately to patients with migraine. Offering various exercise modalities can improve exercise participation in this population. The evaluation of the patients' psychological and physical status can also facilitate the adaptation of the exercise prescription to their abilities and diminish the risk of adverse events.

Prescription of therapeutic exercise in migraine, an evidence-based clinical practice guideline

The main objective of this clinical practice guideline is to provide a series of recommendations for healthcare and exercise professionals, such as neurologists, physical therapists, and exercise physiologists, regarding exercise prescription for patients with migraine.This guideline was developed following the methodology and procedures recommended in the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE). The quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were evaluated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). A systematic literature review was performed and an established appraisal process was employed to rate the quality of relevant scientific research (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology).The evaluation of the current evidence, the elaboration of the grades of recommendation, and their validation show a B grade of recommendation for aerobic exercise, moderate-continuous aerobic exercise, yoga, and exercise and lifestyle recommendations for the improvement of symptoms, disability, and quality of life in patients with migraine. Relaxation techniques, high-intensity interval training, low-intensity continuous aerobic exercise, exercise and relaxation techniques, Tai Chi, and resistance exercise obtained a C grade of recommendation for the improvement of migraine symptoms and disability.

The association between multidimensional sleep health and migraine burden among patients with episodic migraine

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Using the Sleep Regularity, Satisfaction, Alertness, Timing, Satisfaction, and Duration (Ru-SATED) sleep health framework, we examined the association between multidimensional sleep health and headache burden in a cohort of 98 adults with episodic migraine.

METHODS

Participants wore wrist actigraphs and completed twice-daily electronic diaries regarding sleep, headaches, and other health habits for 6 weeks. We calculated separate composite sleep health scores from diary and actigraphy assessed measures using the Ru-SATED framework. We used adjusted multivariable linear regression models to examine the association between composite sleep health scores and headache frequency, duration, and pain intensity.

RESULTS

Among 98 participants (mean age: 35 ± 12 years; 87.8% female), 83 had healthy ranges in ≥ 3 sleep dimensions. In models adjusted for age, sex, menopausal status, physical activity and alcohol intake, good sleep health was associated with fewer headache days/month (actigraphy: 3.1 fewer days; 95% confidence interval: 0.9, 5.7; diary: 4.0 fewer days; 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 6.9). Results did not change substantively with further adjustment for stress and depressive symptoms. We did not observe an association between sleep health and headache duration or intensity, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with episodic migraine, good multidimensional sleep health, but not the majority of singular dimensions of sleep, is associated with approximately 3-4 fewer headache days/month. In addition, there was no association with headache duration or intensity. These findings highlight the importance of assessing multiple dimensions of sleep and suggest that improving sleep health may be a potential clinical strategy to reduce headache frequency.

CITATION

Yoo A, Vgontzas A, Chung J, et al. The association between multidimensional sleep health and migraine burden among patients with episodic migraine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(2):309-317.

Exercise interventions in migraine patients: a YouTube content analysis study based on grades of recommendation

Background

Migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, engendering a high economic cost in developed countries. The adverse events related to pharmacological treatment use have increased interest in non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise. YouTube offers a public source of information for migraine patients regarding exercise interventions for migraine improvement. However, this information has not been validated to ensure the quality and validity of its content.

Objective

This qualitative content analysis study aims to review and evaluate YouTube videos regarding exercise for migraine.

Methods

A systematic review of the current evidence regarding exercise for migraine was performed to establish evidence classification and grades of recommendation with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network tool. The data sources were PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane, EBSCO, Google Scholar and Web of Science. The quality of YouTube videos on exercise in migraine was reviewed using the Global Quality Scale and DISCERN scale. Finally, the classification in grades of recommendation was used to evaluate the included videos in terms of the various exercise modalities.

Results

The classification into recommendation grades showed a grade B for aerobic exercise, yoga and changes in lifestyle behavior regarding exercise. A total of 129 videos were included. The healthcare and exercise professional authors produced higher quality videos with a significant statistical difference, although the alternative therapists and patients' videos had a greater impact and a higher viewership based on correlation analysis. The evaluation of the videos based on the recommendation grades could only include 90 videos. 71% of these videos showed a B grade of recommendation, which corresponded to fewer than half of the total included videos.

Conclusions

YouTube needs higher quality videos on exercise for migraine, and healthcare and exercise professional authors need to improve their scoping strategies to acquire more views. The authors of YouTube videos should have better access to the best current evidence regarding exercise interventions in migraine.