BACKGROUND: Migraine is a frequent debilitating neurological disorder. About 15% of the general population is affected; it significantly lowers quality of life and causes a marked personal suffering. High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) has been used more recently in the therapeutic protocols of physiotherapy for pain management. AIMS: To explore the effect of HILT on pain, frequency and duration of migraine attacks in addition to quality of life in patients with migraine. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with migraine from both genders participated in this study after signing the institutional consent form. Their age extended from 30 to 50 years old. Patients were randomized into two groups of equal number: Study group (GA) received HILT plus a designed physiotherapy program and the control group (GB) obtained the same physiotherapy program as in (GA) but with a sham HILT. Treatment was conducted three sessions per week for one month. Visual analogue scale (VAS), basic diagnostic headache diary and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to assess pain intensity, frequency and duration of migraine attacks and quality of life respectively. All measurements were collected four weeks before intervention (baseline), immediately post intervention and four weeks later for both groups. RESULTS: Our findings revealed a statistically significant decrease of pain intensity, frequency and duration of migraine attacks as well as a significant improvement of quality of life in the two groups with a notable improvement in favor to GA (P value < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High intensity laser therapy can be effectively implemented in the treatment of migraine.

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