THE EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISES ON PAIN, QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRIMARY HEADACHE

Kiruthika  Selvakumar

doi:10.18006/2021.9(Spl-1-GCSGD_2020).S01.S09

Authors

Kiruthika Selvakumar Department of Physiotherapy, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18006/2021.9(Spl-1-GCSGD_2020).S01.S09

Keywords:

Types of Primary Headache, Aerobic Exercise, Pain, Quality of Life

Abstract

Headache disorders are among the most common disorders of the nervous system. According to World Health Organisation reports that almost half of all adults worldwide experience a headache in any given year. Based on research, headaches are classified into primary and secondary headaches. Depending on global prevalence the most common primary headaches are migraine, tension-type, and cluster headaches. If left untreated it can result in increased pain, decreased quality of life. The objective of this literature article is to analyze the effect of aerobic exercise on pain and quality of life among subjects with primary headaches like migraine, tension-type, and cluster headache and to discuss the current updates in the literature. In this article, relevant data available in PubMed, Cochrane, and Medline databases were retrieved from 2010 to February 2020 using the search terms aerobic exercise and tension-type headaches, aerobic exercise and migraine, aerobic exercise and cluster headaches, pain, and quality of life. The search strategy identified five articles that considered the effect of aerobic exercise on primary headaches like a migraine; tension-type and cluster. Results have positive effects for aerobic exercise on tension-type headache, migraine headache mainly on pain intensity, whereas the quality of life is less studied. On the other hand, these studies did not provide a specific protocol or parameter on exercise intensities. The availability of data on the influence of aerobic exercise on primary headaches though is limited, aerobic exercises are the best option for reducing pain and improving quality of life in primary headaches, especially for tension-type and migraine-type headaches.

References

Ahmed F (2012) Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes. British Journal of Pain 6(3): 124–132. https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463712459691.

Andersen L L, Mortensen O S, Zebis M K, Jensen R H, Poulsen O M (2011) Effect of brief daily exercise on headache among adults - Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 37(6): 547–550. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3170.

Bailey L (2017) Brain scans show dopamine levels fall during migraine attacks. Michigan News. University of Michigan. Availabl at https://news.umich.edu/brain-scans-show-dopamine-levels-fall-during-migraine-attacks/ access on 25th October 2019.

Bendtsen L, Fumal A, Schoenen J (2010) Tension-type headache: mechanisms. Handbook of Clinical Neurology 97: 359–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0072-9752(10)97029-2.

Boyles S (2003) Migraine drugs effects scare many away. WebMD. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c4999.

Carbaat P A T, Couturier E G M (2016) Headache: classification and diagnosis. Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Tandheelkunde 123(11): 539–544. https://doi.org/10.5177/ntvt.2016.11.16122.

Clinch C R (2001) Evaluation of Acute Headaches in Adults. American Family Physician 63(4): 685–693.

Daenen L, Varkey E, Kellmann M, Nijs J (2015) Exercise, not to exercise, or how to exercise in patients with chronic pain? Applying science to practice.Clinical Journal of Pain 31(2): 108–114. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000099.

Koseoglu E, Akboyraz A, Soyuer A, Ersoy AO (2003) Aerobic exercise and plasma beta endorphin levels in patients with migrainous headache without aura. Cephalalgia 23(1): 972–976. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.00624.x.

Hagen K, Åsberg A N, Uhlig B L, Tronvik E, Brenner E, Stjern M, Helde G, Gravdahl G B, Sand T (2018) The epidemiology of headache disorders: a face-to-face interview of participants in HUNT4. Journal of Headache and Pain 19(1): 2–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-018-0854-2.

Hoffman J, May A (2018) Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of cluster headache. The Lancet Neurology 17(1): 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30405-2.

How a Migraine Happens: Theories about migraine pain (2020). The Johns Hopkins University. Available at http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/nervous_system_disorders/how_a_migraine_happens_85,P00787/ access on 25th October 2020.

Irby M B, Bond D S, Lipton R B, Nicklas B, Houle T T, Penzien D B (2016) Aerobic Exercise for Reducing Migraine Burden: Mechanisms, Markers, and Models of Change Processes. Headache 56(2): 357–369. https://doi.org/doi:10.1111/head.12738.

Jensen R, Stovner L J (2008) Epidemiology and comorbidity of headache. The Lancet Neurology 7(4): 354–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70062-0.

Kandel S A, Mandiga P (2020) Cluster Headache. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544241.

Kernick D, Reinhold D, Campbell J L (2009) Impact of headache on young people in a school population. British Journal of General Practice 59(566): 678–681. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp09X454142.

Kim S J, Han K T, Jang S Y, Yoo K B, Kim S J (2018) The association between migraine and types of sleep disorder. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122648.

Krøll L S, Hammarlund C S, Linde M, Gard, Jensen R H (2018) The effects of aerobic exercise for persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain. A randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Cephalalgia 38(12): 1805–1816. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102417752119.

McArdle W D, Katch F I, Katch V L (1980) Nutrition, energy, and human performance. Exercise physiology (p. Chapter 21).

Narin S O, Pinar L, Erbas D, Ozturk V, Idiman F (2003) The effects of exercise and exercise-related changes in blood nitric oxide level on migraine headache. Clinical Rehabilitation 17(6): 624–630. https://doi.org/doi: 10.1191/0269215503cr657oa.

Nyberg J, Gustavsson S, Linde M, Aberg N D, Rohmann J L, Aberg M, Kurth T, Waern M, Kuhn G H (2019) Cardiovascular fitness and risk of migraine: a large, prospective population-based study of Swedish young adult men. BMJ Open 9(8): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029147.

PICO - Evidence Based Medicine (2016) The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Available at https://researchguides.uic.edu/ebm access on 25th October 2019.

Primary headache disorders: Types (2019) In Internationalheadache society. Available at https://ichd-3.org access on 25th May 2020.

Queiroz LP, Peres MF, Piovesan EJ, Kowacs F, Ciciarelli MC, Souza JA, Zukerman E (2009) A nationwide population-based study of migraine in Brazil. Cephalalgia 29(6): 642–649. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01782.x.

Rasmussen BK, Jensen R, Olesen J (1992) Impact of headache on sickness absence and utilisation of medical services: a Danish population study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 46(4): 443–446.

https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.46.4.443.

Robbins L (2015) Exercise Tips for Migraines and Headaches. Practical Pain Management. Available at https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com access on 25th May 2020.

Santiago M D S, Carvalho D de S, Gabbai A A, Pinto M M pereira, Moutran A R C, Villa T R (2014) Amitriptyline and aerobic exercise or amitriptyline alone in the treatment of chronic migraine: a randomized comparative study. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria72(11): 851–855. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20140148.

Sertel M, Bakar Y, Şimşek T T (2017) the Effect of Body Awareness Therapy and Aerobic Exercises on Pain and Quality

of Life in the Patients With Tension Type Headache. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines : AJTCAM 14(2): 288–310. https://doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v14i2.31.

Stovner L J, Hagen K, Jensen R H, Katsarava Z (2007) The Global Burden of Headache: A Documentation of Headache Prevalence and Disability Worldwide. Cephalalgia 27(3): 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2982.2007.01288.x.

Terwindt G M, Ferrari M D, Launer L J (2003) The impact of headache on quality of life. Journal of Headache and Pain 4(SUPPL. 1): 35–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s101940300007.

Varkey E., Cider Å, Carlsson J, Linde M (2011) Exercise as migraine prophylaxis: A randomized study using relaxation and topiramate as controls. Cephalalgia 31(14): 1428–1438. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102411419681.

Wei CB, Jia JP, Wang F, Zhou AH, Zuo XM, Chu CB (2016) Overlap between Headache, Depression, and Anxiety in General Neurological Clinics: A Cross-sectional Study. Chinese Medical Journal 129(12): 1394–1399. https://doi.org/10.4103/0366-6999.183410.

Wei DYT, Ong J J Y, Goadsby P J (2018) Cluster headache: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, and diagnosis. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 21(5): S3–S8.https://doi.org/10.4103/aian.AIAN_349_17.

Yancey J R, Sheridan R, Koren K G (2014) Chronic daily headache: diagnosis and management. American Family Physician 89(8): 642–648.