Effect of 8-Weeks Yoga Exercises on Migraine Headache Induces, Serum Levels of Serotonin and Nitric Oxide in Women with Migraine

Migraine as a one of the most common types of high frequency headaches has a significant impact on people's living conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-weeks of yoga exercises on migraine headache induces serum levels of serotonin and nitric oxide in women with migraine.

In this quasi-experimental study, 30 female (age: 36±3.2 years) with migraine were randomly divided into experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). The experimental group performed yoga training for 8 weeks (5 days/60 min session). Indicators included frequency of headache, duration of migraine, pain intensity (by questionnaire) and quality of life (HIT-6) were measured at pretest and posttest and blood samples were taken 48 hours before and 4 days after the last secession of exercise program in fasting state. The ANCOVA test used to examine changes in between groups.

Yoga exercise significantly reduced headache severity (P=0.002), number of headaches (P=0.006), headache duration (P=0.041) and increased quality of life (P=0.001) and nitric oxide levels in the experimental group compared to the control group significantly, but there was no significant change in serotonin levels (P≥0.05).

Eight weeks Vinyasa yoga exercises as a complementary method of life style appear to have a positive effect on improving migraine symptoms and enhancing quality of life in people with migraine.