Evaluation of an Aerobic Exercise Program in Migraine Management

Evaluation of an Aerobic Exercise Program in Migraine Management

This trial assesses the impact of a supervised aerobic exercise program by a kinesiologist in patients with migraine. Patients can be assigned to one of two groups 1)The exercise group or 2)non-exercise group. This is a important area to study because there is currently limited information regarding exercise and its impact on migraine frequency and severity. In many cases, migraine patients are disabled by their headaches and sometimes will not have a significant response to medications. As a result, it is important to study other non-pharmacological interventions. In this study, the investigators hope to show the benefits of exercise by a reduction in number of headache days per month as well as by improvement in quality of life, disability,depression,anxiety,and aerobic fitness.This study will not interfere with the usual treatment patients receive at our headache clinic and patients can remain on medications deemed necessary.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients must meet diagnostic criteria for migraine without aura, migraine with aura or chronic migraine.

2. Patients must be 18-50 years of age.

3. Individuals motivated to exercise and complete the study.

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Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient has a headache on more than 25 days a month
2. Patient is a medication over-user by International Headache Society (IHS) criteria
3. Patient currently has a fitness program with regular aerobic exercise for 30 minutes three times a week or more.
4. Known cardiovascular disease which contraindicates the exercise program
5. Inability to complete the outcome measure questionnaires. -