The association between migraine and exercise
Exercise can help reduce migraine frequency or trigger an attack for some people. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and exercise.
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Key takeaways
Exercise can affect people with migraine in different ways.
- Regular, moderate exercise may reduce migraine frequency and intensity.
- Strenuous exercise—especially when combined with dehydration, skipping meals, forgoing warmups, or lack of sleep—may trigger a migraine in some people.
- Consult your doctor to develop a safe and effective exercise plan.
For people living with migraine, understanding triggers and management strategies can make a big difference in managing attacks.
Understanding the relationship between migraine and exercise may be helpful to find an approach to exercise that works with you and your migraine. Let’s break down what is known about the connection between migraine and exercise.
The association between migraine and exercise
Research has shown that exercise can affect people with migraine in different ways. Many people with migraine benefit from regular exercise, which can help reduce attack frequency and improve overall well-being. However, intense or sudden physical activity may trigger migraine attacks in some people with migraine.
How exercise can help people with migraine
An analysis of studies on migraine and exercise published in The Journal of Headache and Pain found people with migraine who followed a regular exercise routine reported fewer headache days and lower pain intensity.
Regular exercise also supports several migraine-related systems in the body:
- Helps regulate sleep cycles
- Lowers baseline stress and anxiety
- Supports cardiovascular health and weight management
Test your knowledge
Can routine, moderate exercise help in people with migraine?
Correct
Yes, it may reduce migraine frequency and intensity
Not quite
Correct answer: Yes, it may reduce migraine frequency and intensity
How exercise can trigger a migraine attack
On the flip side, exercise-induced migraine attacks can be real, especially for those living with migraine. Studies have suggested that intense or prolonged exercise—especially when combined with dehydration, skipping meals, forgoing warmups, or lack of sleep—can lead to migraine attacks in some people.
Keeping a headache diary can be a helpful tool to track when these attacks occur and identify patterns or triggers related to physical activity. Together with your care team, being aware of these patterns can help you make more informed decisions and manage triggers.
If you experience a headache during or after exercise, it's important to consult a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying or secondary causes.
Tips for exercising with migraine
There’s no one-size-fits-all workout plan for people with migraine. Instead, the goal is to build a routine that feels good for you—one that supports your overall health while minimizing the risk of getting an attack.
Keep a migraine diary to track how exercise affects you. Include specific information such as what type of exercise you did, when you did it, for how long, and at what intensity, so your doctor can better understand the connection and impact exercise has on your migraine symptoms.
Here are a few exercise tips to consider:
- Hydrate before, during, and after your workout
- Warm up and stretch your muscles to ease transitions for your body
- Prioritize regular and moderate activity, especially aerobic exercises such as cycling, swimming, or jogging
- Avoid high-intensity workouts, especially if they’ve triggered migraine attacks in the past
- Monitor your diet as increasing exercise can affect the amount of calories your body needs to maintain stable blood sugar
- It is best to avoid fasting or skipping meals to help in your migraine management
- Listen to your body. If you experience a headache during exercise, don’t push through the pain
Before starting any new exercise regimen, talk to your doctor—especially if you’re on medications or have a history of exercise-induced migraine.
Keeping a headache diary is a helpful tool to track when migraine attacks occur and identify patterns or triggers related to physical activity.
Recap of learnings
For many, exercise can be an important part of a broader migraine management plan.
So, if you’ve been avoiding exercise out of fear of triggering a migraine attack, consider talking to your doctor about exercise, and work together to create a sustainable plan.
Learn more about migraine: www.pfizerforall.com/migraine.
References
Amin FM, Aristeidou S, Baraldi C, et al. The association between migraine and physical exercise.J Head Pain. 2018;19(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0902-y
Exercise. The Migraine Trust. April 9, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2025. https://
migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/self-management/exercise.
Haghdoost F, Togha M. Migraine management: non-pharmacological points for patients and health care professionals. Open Med. 2022;17(1):1869-1882. doi:10.1515/
med-2022-0598