Tai Chi for the Prophylaxis of Episodic Migraine: the Efficacy Examination and Mechanism Exploration

Launched by THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY · Jan 10, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of Tai Chi, a gentle form of exercise, on women who experience episodic migraines. The goal is to find out if practicing Tai Chi for 24 weeks can help reduce the number of migraine attacks compared to standard medications. Researchers will also look into how Tai Chi might work by examining changes in the brain and blood flow related to migraines.

To participate in the trial, you need to be a Chinese woman aged 18 to 65 who has been diagnosed with episodic migraines, meaning you have fewer than 15 migraine days each month. Your first migraine should have occurred before you turned 45, and you should be experiencing between two to six migraines each month. If you fit these criteria and can safely take part in Tai Chi exercises, you might be a good candidate for this study. Participants can expect to engage in Tai Chi classes and contribute to important research that could help others suffering from migraines.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Chinese woman, aged 18-65 years.
• • Have a clinical diagnosis of episodic migraine (migraine with less than 15 attacks per month) with or without aura according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3).
• • First migraine attack before the age of 45 years.
• • Between two and six migraine attacks in one month.
• • At least one of the following migraine characteristics is met: nausea, vomiting, photophobia, or phonophobia.
• • Duration of migraine attacks is 2-72 h without acute medication or at least 1 h with acute medication.
• • Able to undertake designated level of Tai Chi exercise.
• • Live in Hong Kong.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Severe migraine attacks with disabilities that cannot perform moderate intensity physical activity.
• • Secondary headache and other neurological disease.
• • More than 5 days of non-migrainous headache per month.
• • Experience with Tai Chi or other body-mind exercises (yoga, biofeedback, medication, etc.) after diagnosis of migraine.
• • Undergoing other alternative therapeutic treatments during recruitment period, or received other alternative therapeutic treatments in the past 12 weeks.
• • Pregnancy, lactation period, or currently using contraceptives.
• • Use of pharmacological prophylactic treatment for migraine in the past 12 weeks.
• • Drug abuse, take antipsychotic or antidepressant drugs, or take analgesics for other chronic pain more than 3 days a month in the past 12 weeks.
• • Epilepsy, or have a psychiatric disease.