The aim of the study will be to investigate the effect of functional exercises on pain and quality of life in females with primary dysmenorrhea.
Primary dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain are significant health, social and economic problems. It involves a broad spectrum of physical and emotional manifestations, with 50% to 91 % prevalence in young women. Women with primary dysmenorrhea report significantly lower quality of life because of bodily pain, general health condition, and physical and social functioning. It compromises the most common gynecological alternations and is the primary cause of women's academic and work absenteeism, which reduces the quality of life, daily activities, and economic situation due to decreased working hours. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are the first therapeutic line for primary dysmenorrhea; however, they might be accompanied by undesirable side effects, such as dyspepsia, headache, and drowsiness. So, there is a need for safe interventions with no side effects. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of functional exercises on pain and quality of life in females with primary dysmenorrhea.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
58
All female participants in groups A and B will be provided with lifestyle modification advice, including recommendations such as reducing caffeine intake, limiting salt consumption, decreasing animal fat consumption, quitting smoking, practicing relaxation techniques, applying heat when needed, considering the use of herbal agents, avoiding cold drinks and foods, and opting for loose, cotton clothing.
Each female in group (B) will perform the exercise program three times a week for eight weeks at the University Women's Health Unit Exercise protocols mainly consist of relaxation, strengthening, stretching, aerobic exercises, pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises, yoga, and Pilates
Cairo University
Giza, Egypt
Visual analogue scale (VAS)
It will be used to measure pain intensity for each female in both groups (A\&B) before and after the end of treatment. The VAS is usually presented as a 10 cm horizontal line on which the participants' pain intensity is represented by a point between the extremes of "no pain at all "and "worst pain imaginable. " Its simplicity, reliability, and validity, as well as its ratio scale properties, make the VAS the optional tool for describing pain intensity.
Time frame: 8 weeks
The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire
It will be used to evaluate menstruation symptoms and distress for each female in both groups (A\&B) before and after the end of treatment. It consists of symptoms or feelings associated with menstruation. The total number of items is 47. It is a 5-point rating scale from 0-4. Each item has five options, i.e., No, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. An option of (very severe) has a score of 4, (severe) has a score of 3, (moderate) has a score of 2, (mild) has a score of 1, (No) has a score of 0. It includes seven subscales as (pain, water retention, autonomic reactions, negative affect, impaired concentration, mood and behavioral changes, and arousal control). The overall score was interpreted as follows: \<50 - mild, 50 to 70 - moderate, and \>70 severe.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction questionnaire
It will be used to assess health-related quality of life for participants of both groups (A\&B) before and after the end of the treatment program. It consists of items that evaluate overall enjoyment and satisfaction regarding; Physical Health, mood, work, household and leisure activities, family and social relationships, ability to function in daily life, economic status, living or housing situation, ability to get around physically, ability to do work or hobbies, and overall sense of being. Responses will be scored on a five-point scale (from "very poor" to "very good"), where higher scores indicate better enjoyment and satisfaction with life. Scores will be added and presented as a percentage of the total maximum score. A percentage of the total score of \> 70 represents the normal quality of life.
Mai Mohamed Ali, PhD
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Time frame: 8 weeks
Pressure pain threshold assessment
A pressure algometry will be used to measure pressure pain thresholds for all participants in both groups (A\&B) before and after the end of the treatment program.
Time frame: 8 weeks