Show Notes
Exercise can be one of the most helpful tools for migraine prevention, but when your body is already under strain, the wrong intensity can sometimes push you toward an attack. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, Diane Ducarme explores why movement can both support and challenge a migraine-sensitive nervous system, and how to find the level of exercise that works with your body rather than against it. You’ll discover: 💡 Why regular movement may help reduce migraine frequency, even if some workouts seem to trigger symptoms 💡 The signs that exercise is exceeding your current capacity and it may be time to slow down or adjust 💡 A simple migraine-friendly movement approach you can try at home without pushing your body beyond its limits The goal is not to exercise harder. It is to find the kind of movement that helps your nervous system become more resilient, without tipping it into overload. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Exercise as Migraine Prophylaxis: A Randomized Study Using Relaxation and Topiramate as Controls (Varkey et al., 2011): This trial found exercise may be an effective option for migraine prevention. Read more here. The Association Between Migraine and Physical Exercise (Amin et al., 2018): This review examines exercise as both a potential migraine trigger and preventive strategy. Read more here. Provocation of Migraine With Aura Using Natural Trigger Factors (Hougaard et al., 2013): This study tested whether exercise and bright or flickering light could provoke migraine with aura. Read more here. What Is the Efficacy of Aerobic Exercise Versus Strength Training in the Treatment of Migraine? (Woldeamanuel & Oliveira, 2022): This analysis compares strength and aerobic exercise for reducing migraine frequency. Read more here. Prescription of Therapeutic Exercise in Migraine: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline (La Touche et al., 2023): This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for exercise in migraine care. Read more here. How Much Aerobic Exercise Is Needed to Reduce Migraine? A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Pain Intensity and Frequency (Ogrezeanu et al., 2026): This analysis examines the amount of aerobic exercise associated with migraine improvement. Read more here. Relationship Between Kinesiophobia, Cognitive Aspects, Level of Physical Activity, and Disability in Individuals With Migraine (Pina et al., 2025): This study links fear of movement with greater disability and lower physical activity in migraine. Read more here. Primary Exercise Headache (International Headache Society, 2018): These criteria define headache occurring specifically during or after strenuous exercise. Read more here.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks. We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster migraines. We dive deep into the complexities of migraine with aura and migraine without aura, as well as rarer forms like hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and acephalgic migraine (silent migraine). Our discussions also extend to cervicogenic headaches, ice pick headaches, and pressure headaches, which often mimic migraine or contribute to overall migraine burden.
More from Migraine Heroes
For some people, COVID ends, but the headache does not. Long COVID can bring a new headache pattern or make an existing migraine condition feel very different. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores why migraine, fatigue, poor sleep, dizziness and brain fog can sometimes appear together after COVID and why it may help to look beyond the head alone. You’ll learn: 💡 Why Long COVID may trigger new headaches or worsen an existing migraine pattern 💡 Why fatigue, sleep problems, dizziness, brain fog and exercise intolerance may sometimes travel alongside migraine 💡 Why recognizing your new post-COVID migraine pattern can be more useful than assuming your old triggers still explain everything When the pattern changes, understanding what has changed can be the first step toward making sense of your symptoms. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com
What if one of your biggest migraine triggers is something you have never thought to notice? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme takes you through a practical “trigger scan”: from sleep, hormones and food to weather, sensory overload, posture and more without turning migraine management into a life of avoidance. You’ll learn: 💡 How to spot less obvious migraine triggers across your everyday routines, environment and body 💡 How to observe patterns without obsessing or eliminating everything and identify the few things that may actually matter for you The goal is not a smaller life built around avoiding triggers, but greater awareness of what helps your body become more stable. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com Few of the trigger episodes mentioned: Indulgence or Insight? What Chocolate, Cheese & Wine Reveal About Your Brain The Fasting Paradox: Why Skipping Meals Can Spark Migraine and Stress Why Red Wine Triggers Migraines for Some People And What Science Reveals Kombucha for Migraine: Healing Tonic or Hidden Trigger? 5 Reasons Why Fragrance & Perfume Smells Are Triggering Your Migraines & What To Do About It When Light Hurts: The Hidden Link Between Screens, Stress, and Migraine Hidden Sugar and Blood Sugar Spikes: The Silent Migraine Trigger
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Have a migraine question you wish you could ask Diane directly? Every other Thursday, Diane opens the door for a small, informal live Q&A, bring your question or simply come and listen. The next sessions are October 22 and November 5, 2026. They are not recorded, so the conversation stays with the people in the room. 👉 To join, register at migraineheroes.com/live
Could your jaw be quietly adding fuel to your migraine attacks? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores how jaw tension, clenching, and TMJ dysfunction may interact with migraine, especially if you wake with headaches or feel pain around your temples. You’ll learn: 💡 How to recognize signs that jaw tension or clenching may be contributing to your migraine 💡 Why teeth and tongue position at rest matter and why a mouth guard may not solve the clenching itself 💡 A simple jaw-reset routine you can try at home to release tension and calm the system Sometimes, a small change in how you hold your jaw can make a surprisingly meaningful difference. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com