Exercise and migraine. A critical review.

Exercise has been frequently discussed as a method of migraine management, but the pathways by which exercise may alter migraines are unclear at present. The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical discussion of variables potentially involved in the prophylactic effects of a program of regular exercise. Exercise medicated changes to neurochemical secretory patterns, as well as symptoms commonly associated with, and thought to precipitate migraines will be discussed. Due to the paucity of experimental investigations of exercise and migraine, the bulk of supportive evidence for exercise as a treatment for migraines is gathered from related areas of research.