Migraine is a leading cause of disability, and while it is primarily managed medically, exercise is often recommended as part of prevention. This review asked a practical question: does exercise reduce how often migraines strike, and does the type of exercise matter?
The authors pooled clinical trials that measured monthly migraine frequency, comparing moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, high-intensity aerobic exercise and strength training against controls and, in some cases, against migraine medications. A network meta-analysis let them rank the different approaches.
Migraine sufferers often ask what they can do themselves alongside medical care. Clear evidence on whether, and how, exercise helps supports honest, empowering advice.
Moderate and high-intensity aerobic training, such as brisk walking, cycling or running programmes, delivered over several weeks.
Resistance or strength-based programmes, compared head to head with aerobic exercise and with control conditions.
Exercise reduced migraine frequency, and the review pointed to which types performed best.
Exercise reduced the number of monthly migraine days compared with control conditions.
In the network analysis, strength training and higher-intensity aerobic exercise were among the most effective for reducing migraine frequency.
Certain exercise protocols compared favourably with medication controls used for migraine prevention.
Exercise is low-risk and offers wider health benefits, making it an attractive addition to migraine care.
Exercise reduced how often migraines occurred, with strength training and higher-intensity aerobic exercise ranking among the most effective options, supporting exercise as a useful part of migraine prevention.
While migraine is managed medically, this review supports encouraging appropriate exercise as part of a broader plan, which fits naturally with the movement and rehabilitation side of these clinics.
For clients who also carry neck tension or tension-type headache, combining exercise advice with hands-on care for the neck and shoulders is a sensible, well-rounded approach, always alongside their medical management.
Supports prescribing structured aerobic and strength exercise as part of a migraine-prevention plan, coordinated with medical care.
Reinforces pairing hands-on neck and shoulder care with graded exercise advice for people who live with migraine.
Massage can support comfort and stress reduction alongside an exercise programme, framed as supportive care.
Directly relevant for helping active clients build safe, effective exercise routines that may also reduce migraine frequency.
Exercise trials in migraine are often small and hard to blind, and protocols vary widely, which limits how precisely the effect and the best exercise type can be pinned down. Migraine remains a medical condition, so exercise is an addition to, not a replacement for, appropriate medical care.
The rankings should be read as a helpful guide rather than the final word. Please confirm the citation details and author list against the source before publishing.
This network meta-analysis found that exercise reduced monthly migraine frequency, with strength training and higher-intensity aerobic exercise among the most effective options, and some protocols comparing favourably with medication.
For myotherapists, physiotherapists and sports treatment providers, it supports building appropriate exercise into migraine care alongside medical management, with hands-on treatment for any associated neck tension.
Pulsatile Dry Cupping in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Exploratory Trial. Teut M, Kaiser S, Ortiz M, and colleagues. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012; 12: 184.
