Kang Mi-Kyoung, Hong Yooha, Cho Soo-Jin
Department of Neurology, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, South Korea.
Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2025 Jan;12(1):149-157. doi: 10.1002/acn3.52263. Epub 2024 Dec 11.
This study aimed to evaluate the potential of exercise as an abortive treatment for patients with cluster headache (CH).
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among CH patients at a single center in Korea. Demographics and headache characteristics were compared between those who found exercise effective and those who did not. We analyzed the type and intensity of exercise used. Headache improvement was measured as intensity reduction, with ≥50% improvement defined as a reduction in intensity by half or more. Exercise intensity was categorized as moderate ("possible to talk but hard to sing") or high ("difficult to speak without pausing"). Case reports of patients exercising during CH attacks were also reviewed.
Among 167 registered CH patients, 136 patients provided responses about exercise during CH attacks; 39.7% (54/136) attempted exercise as treatment. Improvement was reported by 42.6% (23/54), with ≥50% improvement in 29.6% (16/54). Patients who found exercise effective had lower Headache Impact Test-6 scores. Effective exercises included running (39.1%), squats (30.4%), and stair climbing (21.7%), with high-intensity exercise effective for 52.2% and moderate intensity for 43.5%. Among the 23 patients who benefited from exercise, 18 reported their most effective treatment, which were exercise alone in 50% (9/18), followed by exercise with triptans in 38.9% (7/18), and oxygen with or without triptans in 5.5% (1/18).
About 40% of CH patients attempted exercise for acute CH management, with 30% experiencing over 50% improvement. While evidence is limited, exercise may help alleviate headaches and could be considered an adjunctive treatment for CH attacks.
本研究旨在评估运动作为丛集性头痛（CH）患者的一种中止治疗方法的潜力。
在韩国的一个单一中心对CH患者进行了横断面调查。比较了认为运动有效的患者和认为运动无效的患者的人口统计学和头痛特征。我们分析了所使用运动的类型和强度。头痛改善情况以强度降低来衡量，强度降低≥50%定义为强度降低一半或更多。运动强度分为中等强度（“可以交谈但难以唱歌”）或高强度（“不暂停就难以说话”）。还回顾了CH发作期间运动的患者的病例报告。
在167名登记的CH患者中，136名患者提供了关于CH发作期间运动的回复；39.7%（54/136）尝试将运动作为治疗方法。42.6%（23/54）的患者报告有改善，其中29.6%（16/54）的患者强度降低≥50%。认为运动有效的患者头痛影响测试-6得分较低。有效的运动包括跑步（39.1%）、深蹲（30.4%）和爬楼梯（21.7%），高强度运动有效率为52.2%，中等强度运动有效率为43.5%。在23名从运动中受益的患者中，18名报告了他们最有效的治疗方法，其中50%（9/18）是单独运动，其次是运动联合曲坦类药物的占38.9%（7/18），吸氧联合或不联合曲坦类药物的占5.5%（1/18）。
约40%的CH患者尝试通过运动来进行急性CH的管理，其中30%的患者头痛改善超过50%。虽然证据有限，但运动可能有助于缓解头痛，可被视为CH发作的辅助治疗方法。
