This study will be conducted to determine the effect of acupressure ice massage on primary dysmenorrhea.
Dysmenorrhea is considered the most common gynecological complaint by young women and affects approximately 60-80% of the female population. Around 8-18% of that population report intense discomfort, causing absenteeism in several daily activities while suffering pain. Analgesics are considered the first line of treatment, but they are known for their undesirable effects such as renal, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal complications that can negatively affect patients' health. Physical therapy has alternative techniques that assist in analgesia in a practical and effective way; among them is acupressure and cryo therapy. The effect of application of ice on the skin has a direct action on neurons and pain receptors, lowering the speed and the number of nerve impulses. This effect is due to its action on the gate control of pain mechanism, leading to the release of endorphins and enkephalins that are pain-relieving substances. It was proved from previous studies that using ice massage on L14 or SP6 points reduce pain intensity in females suffering from PD. So, further studies are needed to investigate the effect of acupressure ice massage not only on pain intensity but also on other symptoms severity and quality of life of females suffering from PD. Therefore, this study will be conducted for this issue which will be of valuable benefits for medical service organization and increase body of knowledge of physical therapy in scientific field.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
50
* It will be used for participants in group (A), 2 cm diameter circular ice pieces will be placed inside plastic bags and covered with a thin gauze to prevent moisture transmission and direct ice contact with the skin to apply ice massage. * Ice massage will carried out rotationally each 1 minute (30 seconds clockwise and 30 seconds counterclockwise) on L14 point for 10 minutes and on SP6 point for another 10 minutes.
* Pelvic rocking exercise will be used for all participants in both groups (A \& B). * Each participant will be encouraged to lie down on her back on matrix with a pillow under head then bend her knees and keep her foot flat on the floor and place one hand under curve of her back and the other hand on the top of. her abdomen then tighten buttocks and abdominal muscles simultaneously. After that each participant will be encouraged to inhale and hold (1-2-3-4) then exhale and hold 4-3-2-1 then relax muscles and feel her back flat on the underneath hand. Finally, each participant will be encouraged to repeat the last two steps about 10 times each session. * The exercise will be repeated for 15times/ session, 3 times /week, for 3 successive menstrual cycles.
Doaa Ashraf Abd El-Ghany
Cairo, Egypt
Pain intensity assessment
It will be assessed for each participant in both groups (A \& B) before and after treatment, using the visual analogue scale (VAS). 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 ". It's simplicity, reliability and validity as well as its ratio scale properties make the VAS the optional tool for describing pain intensity.
Time frame: 3 months
Assessment of pain pressure threshold
A pressure algometer will be used to measure pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) for all participants in both groups before and after treatment, coinciding with peak menstrual pain on the first day of menstruation. Six specific points around the umbilicus and lower back will be assessed, with each point measured twice using a 1-cm² probe applied at 30kPa/s. The areas will be cleaned with alcohol before testing. Two points will be measured 4cm bilaterally from the umbilicus, two more 4cm below these, one 4cm below the umbilicus, and one in the lumbar region at S2-S4. The mean values of these points will be used for PPT data analysis.
Time frame: 3 months
Menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ)
It will be used pre and post- treatment to assess the severity of symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea for all participants in both groups (A \& B). The MDQ 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. For each items, there is 5 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 sub-scales as (pain, water retention, autonomic reactions, negative affect, impaired concentration, mood and behavioral changes, arousal control). Overall Score was interpreted as follows :\< 50 - mild , 50 to 70 - moderate and \>70 severe.
Time frame: 3 months
Manal Ahmed El-Shafei, PhD
CONTACT
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