Can Pilates help with your migraine?
Migraines are a serious pain! But research shows that regular exercise – like Pilates – can help reduce migraine symptoms.
Migraine is often misunderstood as being an occasional ‘bad headache’. It certainly is painful, but migraine is a chronic neurological condition that affects over 4.9 million Australians. About 30% of migraineurs suffer from a migraine attack from the age of ten.
The National Headache Foundation (US) advises that health and lifestyle changes can positively impact your migraine.
Diet, exercise, relaxation, mindfulness, sleep, stress management, and activity pacing or time management are all non-medical methods recommended by leading neurologists specialising in migraines.
The benefits of exercise for migraine sufferers
Sadly, people who suffer from migraines are prone to anxiety and depression. Exercise can help your mental outlook and lower stress.
A healthy exercise routine can also help improve the quality of your sleep.
Regular exercise helps the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relief and can be even more effective than morphine in the relief of headache pain.
There’s also research showing that exercise can reduce the frequency of migraines.
Why Pilates may help you cope with migraine
The three elements of a beneficial exercise program are:
A good cardiovascular workout
Building up muscular strength and endurance
Flexibility training
Pilates focuses on two out of three of these elements. Combined with a bit of regular cardio, it’s an excellent way to support your overall health.
I’ll add that Pilates also focuses on breath control, which is important in relaxation and stress relief.
Ideally, having an experienced teacher to guide you would be best. And if you’re starting a regular Pilates practice, ease in! This will help you avoid any possible triggering of your migraines.
Dehydration is another major trigger for migraine, so if you’re exercising, especially in warm weather, make sure you drink lots of water. Migraine experts like Deborah C. Zajac recommend that you hydrate before, during and after your exercise workout.
Before you start your exercise program… Talk to your GP or migraine specialist
Working out should be fun!
But with migraine, it can be difficult to do. The truth is, there is no magic cure. And in some cases, exercise can induce a migraine.
The best advice tells us that it’s important to work exercise into your daily routine, and Pilates is an excellent way of supporting your overall wellbeing.
As always, best to speak to your doctor about the right approach to helping you deal with your migraines.