Telecoaching and Migraine: Digital Approach to Physical Activity in Migraine Management. A Scoping Review

Abstract

Migraine is a common neurological disorder, affecting approximately 15% of the European population and is among the main causes of years lived with disability. In the context of increasing digitalisation, telecoaching (TC) is a new training modality that involves the use of digital tools to access and manage training services remotely. Given the well-documented benefits of physical activity in migraine management and the rapid expansion of digital health services following the COVID-19 pandemic, this scoping review aims to evaluate the use and feasibility of TC-based training programs in individuals with migraine. A systematic search was conducted on multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) identifying 1507 studies, of which only 3 met the inclusion criteria. These studies collectively involved 181 participants with migraine and assessed various training programs, including aerobic training, resistance training, and physical therapy. Most training programs showed statistically significant improvements in several variables, including severity, duration, and frequency of migraine attacks. However, based on our study, there is limited evidence to suggest that TC training is beneficial for migraine patients. These findings underscore the need for further investigation, with more rigorous methodologies, higher-quality trials, and larger sample sizes to better establish the efficacy of TC training as a preventive and therapeutic approach for migraine.