The Migraine Cycle Challenge
Join Migraine Ireland for our 2024 Cycle Challenge. Simply bike 55km and raise €55 by October 31st. The first 50 to complete the challenge will receive a free Migraine Ireland cycle jersey!
We are delighted to announce our 2024 Cycling Challenge where the first 50 individuals to bike 55km and raise €55 will receive a complimentary Migraine Ireland cycle jersey.
Migraine and Exercise
Migraine and exercise may feel like opposite ends of the spectrum to those who suffer from the neurological disease, but it is a vital necessity of any healthy lifestyle. Overexertion can potentially trigger attacks, which is why we at Migraine Ireland suggest participating in low-impact activities such as archery, yoga and, of course, cycling.
In line with standard recommendations, people only need about 30 minutes of moderate activity every day to maintain good health.
For migraineurs especially, it is key to prioritise healthy sleep patterns, good diets, hydration and consistent day-to-day routines in order to help subside any migraine triggers which may arise from physical activity. As such, it does not particularly matter where you exercise your body, whether it be indoors or outdoors, at a gym or at home, individually or at a class. What is important is noting your triggers and planning a routine accordingly.
Making use of a tracking system such as a Migraine Diary is great for this purpose. Please reach out to us at info@migraine.ie for one if you are interested.
The Migraine Diary is a simple but effective way of managing your migraine. A migraine diary can help you to establish certain patterns in your attacks helping prevent and manage them.
The challenge
To maximise accessibility and flexibility for participants, we’ve made the location of our cycle challenge entirely up to each individual. If outdoor cycling is too strenuous or time-consuming, please feel free to use a stationary bike instead.
Ultimately, the goal of this challenge is to raise awareness of migraine and educate migraineurs that exercise does not have to be a burden to them. Not only is the flow of oxygen to the brain improved by movement, said movement also helps the brain to release endorphins, thus making you feel better overall. Cycling particularly also helps to raise dopamine and serotonin levels.
Aside from all the aforementioned benefits, as mentioned in a previous article “Migraine and Exercise,” new studies suggest that low-impact sports could actually help with the prevention of migraine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1555933/
As migraine is a highly individualised condition, always discuss how to safely incorporate exercise into your migraine treatment and care with your doctor. Physiotherapists are also an excellent resource for people living with migraine, find out more about the role physiotherapy plays in migraine here: The Role of Physiotherapy in Headaches and Migraine (youtube.com)
To take part in this year’s event, please click this link
https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/55kmVirtualCyclingChallenge
The information contained in this article is for information only and not intended to replace medical advice or diagnosi