title: Biofeedback assisted diaphragmatic breathing and systematic relaxation versus propranolol in long term prophylaxis of migraine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate utility of biofeedback assisted diaphragmatic breathing and systematic relaxation in migraine and to compare their efficacy with propranolol in long term prophylaxis of migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  192 migraine patients were randomly distributed into two groups. Propranolol group received propranolol 80 mg/day while biofeedback group received electromyogram (EMG) and temperature biofeedback assisted diaphragmatic breathing and systematic relaxation training accompanied by home practice for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant clinical response was seen with biofeedback in 66.66% and with propranolol in 64.58% of patients. Frequency, severity, duration of attacks and number of vomiting episodes were significantly reduced in both the groups at 6 months but inter-group differences were statistically insignificant. During 1 year post-treatment period, significantly lesser resurgence of migraine was seen in biofeedback group as whole (9.37%) and in biofeedback responders in biofeedback group (9.37%) in comparison to resurgence of migraine in propranolol group as whole (38.54%) and in propranolol responders in propranolol group (53.22%) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biofeedback assisted diaphragmatic breathing and systematic relaxation were very useful in migraine and had significantly better long-term prophylactic effect than propranolol in migraine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Nagar, Dehradun 248140, Uttaranchal, India. rmkaushik1@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: Rajeev Mohan
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: Sukhdev Krishan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Vemreddi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajesh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D011433:Propranolol