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The Journal of Headache and Pain

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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Progressive muscle relaxation reduces migraine frequency and normalizes amplitudes of contingent negative variation (CNV)

Authors: Bianca Meyer, Armin Keller, Hans-Georg Wöhlbier, Claudia Helene Overath, Britta Müller, Peter Kropp

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Central information processing, visible in evoked potentials like the contingent negative variation (CNV) is altered in migraine patients who exhibit higher CNV amplitudes and a reduced habituation. Both characteristics were shown to be normalized under different prophylactic migraine treatment options whereas Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) has not yet been examined. We investigated the effect of PMR on clinical course and CNV in migraineurs in a quasi-randomized, controlled trial.

Methods

Thirty-five migraine patients and 46 healthy controls were examined. Sixteen migraineurs and 21 healthy participants conducted a 6-week PMR-training with CNV-measures before and after as well as three months after PMR-training completion. The remaining participants served as controls. The clinical course was analyzed with two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Pre-treatment CNV differences between migraine patients and healthy controls were examined with t-tests for independent measures. The course of the CNV-parameters was examined with three-way ANOVAs with repeated measures.

Results

After PMR-training, migraine patients showed a significant reduction of migraine frequency. Preliminary to the PMR-training, migraine patients exhibited higher amplitudes in the early component of the CNV (iCNV) and the overall CNV (oCNV) than healthy controls, but no differences regarding habituation. After completion of the PMR-training, migraineurs showed a normalization of the iCNV amplitude, but neither of the oCNV nor of the habituation coefficient.

Conclusions

The results confirm clinical efficacy of PMR for migraine prophylaxis. The pre-treatment measure confirms altered cortical information processing in migraine patients. Regarding the changes in the iCNV after PMR-training, central nervous mechanisms of the PMR-effect are supposed which may be mediated by the serotonin metabolism.

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Title: Progressive muscle relaxation reduces migraine frequency and normalizes amplitudes of contingent negative variation (CNV)
Authors: Bianca Meyer
Armin Keller
Hans-Georg Wöhlbier
Claudia Helene Overath
Britta Müller
Peter Kropp
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-016-0630-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Progressive muscle relaxation reduces migraine frequency and normalizes amplitudes of contingent negative variation (CNV)

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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