The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of 8 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic training on permeability inflammatory indicators of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and specific tissue inhibitors of MMPs in female migraineurs.
Female migraineurs (n = 28, age 32 ± 6) were randomised into two groups: migraine with exercise training (EXE + Mig, n = 13) and migraine without exercise training (NON-EXE + Mig, n = 15). Matched healthy women were also recruited as a healthy control group (CON, n = 15). The EXE-Mig group performed 8 weeks of aerobic training. Pre and post intervention, serum matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and 9) and specific tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP-1 and 2) were measured. In addition, body composition indices and VO were determined.
Exercise training reduced serum MMP-9 in female migraineurs with between-group changes and a time x group interaction (p < 0.05). In addition, exercise training reduced the serum MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in female migraineurs with between-group changes and time x group interaction (p  0.05) and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio (p > 0.05). Finally, exercise training reduced body fat content, WHR and BMI, and improved VO (p < 0.01).
Our results demonstrated beneficial effects of aerobic exercise training on some circulatory inflammation factors (MMP9, MMP-9/TIMP-1) and some health indicators in female migraineurs, suggesting that such training can be employed as a non-pharmacological therapeutic method.

© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.