TENS and exercise program for women with migraine

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve stimulatıon and Exercise Training on Pain and functionalıty in Women With Migraine

Not applicable Interventional Suleyman Demirel University · NCT07125820

This project will test whether adding TENS and a supervised exercise program to usual care helps reduce pain and disability in sedentary women aged 18-55 with migraine.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment38 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 55 Years
SexFemale
SponsorSuleyman Demirel University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ankara)
Trial IDNCT07125820 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional trial randomizes sedentary women with migraine to receive either a combined TENS plus supervised exercise program or control care with a placebo TENS session and a home exercise program. All participants continue their prescribed migraine medications and receive a 30-minute lifestyle education session and a brochure. The active program delivers TENS and supervised exercise three times per week for eight weeks at Isparta Süleyman Demirel University, while controls receive a single placebo TENS session and home exercises. Outcomes measured before and after the 8-week program include pain, disability, muscle strength, flexibility, sleep quality, balance, and quality of life.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Sedentary women aged 18-55 diagnosed with migraine by IHS criteria, with at least two migraine attacks per month and on stable migraine medication for three months or longer.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have vestibular migraine or other concomitant headache types, significant neurological or inflammatory disease, recent cervical physiotherapy or facial procedures, or who cannot attend in-person sessions are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combined TENS and exercise approach could reduce migraine pain and disability and improve strength, sleep, balance, and quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies of TENS or exercise alone have shown modest benefits for headache, but the specific combination of supervised TENS plus exercise for migraine has been less well studied.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Sedentary female individuals aged 18-55 years
* Being diagnosed with migraine according to the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria
* Having at least 2 migraine attacks per month
* Having started the use of medical medication for migraine treatment 3 months or earlier
* Not taking medication continuously except for migraine attacks

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having vestibular migraine
* Having another type of concomitant headache
* Becoming pregnant
* Being breastfeeding
* History of trauma or surgery in the craniocervical region
* Presence of concomitant neurological (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, etc.) and/or inflammatory rheumatic diseases (ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)
* Presence of psychiatric problems (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.)
* History of malignancy
* Physiotherapy and rehabilitation for migraine or cervical region in the last 6 months
* Botox / filler application to the face area
* Not attending research sessions regularly or missing 3 consecutive sessions

Where this trial is running

Ankara

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions MigraineTensExercise
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.