Exercise as a Promising Strategy to Manage Cluster Headache Pain: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Various pharmacological treatments have been used to relieve pain and reduce the duration and occurrence of cluster headache (CH) attacks, but these treatments remain partially effective for many patients. Aerobic exercises have been proposed to decrease the prevalence and severity of symptoms associated with other types of headaches, but the effectiveness of aerobic exercise for CH management has not yet been investigated. Case presentation: This report describes the case of a 24 yearold male patient diagnosed with episodic CH (1/day; > 1 h). Thirteen days after the first episode, moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise was performed (10–30 min) at the onset of CH attack. Aerobic exercise reduced both severity and duration of CH attacks. Conclusions: This case report suggests that performing moderate-intensity aerobic exercise at the onset of a CH attack may be an interesting non-pharmacologic intervention that can be used to ease pain symptoms.