Acceptability of a Combined Aerobic Exercise and Sleep Intervention for Sedentary Individuals with Migraine

Background: Migraine is the second most disabling illness in the world. Research has largely focused on pharmacological treatments, with limited studies evaluating behavioral interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of a novel behavioral intervention targeting exercise and sleep among sedentary people with migraine. Method: Nineteen participants engaged in a randomized controlled trial assigned to either a phone-delivered educational intervention for best sleep practices and exercise tailored to people with migraine or a no-treatment control group. Participants tracked their migraine frequency, duration, intensity, sleep, and physical activity using ecological momentary assessment over a 4-week study period. Depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: Results showed 93% and 94% adherence to the ecological momentary assessment procedure and exercise intervention, respectively, with 57.1 more minutes of physical activity in week 2 [CI 51.4, 62.7], 57.7 in week 3 [CI 52.0, 63.3], and 56.6 in week 4 [CI 50.9, 62.2], compared to week 1 for the intervention group. Preliminary efficacy results showed sleep duration improved over time for the intervention group, with 0.77 more hours in week 3 [0.22, 1.31] and 0.95 more hours in week 4 [0.40, 1.49], compared to baseline. Anxiety symptoms significantly decreased over time for the intervention group compared to the control group (p <.021, d = 0.25). Other results were null. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the acceptability of a multicomponent lifestyle intervention, suggesting its potential for large-scale implementation to address behavioral and psychological comorbidities in migraine management.