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

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-65
SponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University

About this trial

The proposed study aims to examine the clinical efficacy of 24-week Tai Chi training in the prophylaxis of episodic migraine comparing with standard prophylactic medication in Hong Kong Chinese women, and to explore the mechanism of Tai Chi's intervention effect by examining the associations of changes in migraine features with neurovascular and neuroinflammation variations.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

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.

Disqualifiers

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.

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Tai Chi training
  • Standard prophylactic medication

Treatment groups

220 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Locations

2
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong KongHONG KONG, Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Hong Kong

Sponsors and collaborators

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Lead sponsor