MIGRAFIT: Evaluating a Group Therapy Program Combining Physical Activity, Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Psychoeducation for Adolescents With Migraine

Summary

Background: Migraine is a headache disorder highly prevalent in children and adolescents. It significantly affects academic performance and quality of life. A conservative approach to pharmacological prophylaxis for pediatric patients persists in clinical practice, as potential risks must be carefully weighed against the benefits for each individual patient. Non-pharmacological interventions, including physical activity, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and psychoeducation have shown promising effects individually but demand a high level of patient motivation. This study protocol creates the foundation to evaluate a novel group therapy program combining high-intensity interval training (HIIT), PMR, and psychoeducation tailored for children and adolescents with migraine.

Methods: This single-centre, open-label, randomized controlled trial will enrol 80 participants aged 13 to 17 years and diagnosed with migraine according to ICHD-3 criteria. Participants are randomized 1:1 into an intervention and control group. The intervention group will receive a 18-week, once-weekly 65-minute group therapy (comprising HIIT and PMR) plus two sessions of psychoeducation. The control group receives no intervention. Primary outcomes are changes in migraine frequency, duration, intensity and acute medication use, assessed through standardized headache diaries before and after the intervention. Secondary outcomes include changes in migraine-related disability (PedMIDAS questionnaire), exploratory analysis of physical activity patterns in a subgroup and a patient-centered evaluation of the intervention's feasibility and perceived effectiveness.

Discussion: This trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness and feasibility of a structured, time-efficient, multimodal group therapy intervention for pediatric migraine. By combining physical and psychological strategies within a supportive group setting, the program aims to overcome key limitations of adherence and offer a non-pharmacological treatment alternative. If successful, the intervention is intended to be incorporated into routine outpatient care for pediatric migraine at the Medical University of Innsbruck.

Conditions

• Migraine
• Headache Disorders
• Pediatric Migraine

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Weekly group training

Weekly high-intensity interval training followed by progressive muscle relaxation in a group setting, plus two additional psychoeducation sessions focusing on pain management

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical University Innsbruck

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Christian Lechner, MD · Medical University Innsbruck

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-03-01

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2027-06-30

Countries

• Austria

Study Locations