A New Treatment for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Overview

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a chronic health condition that affects primarily young women and interferes with daily activities, causes loss of work productivity, and reduces quality of life. In this controlled study, the effects of trigger point massage and stretching exercises applied to patients diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea on pain severity (Visual Analog Scale), menstrual symptoms (Menstruation Symptom Scale) and quality of life (SF-36) were investigated. Forty-five women who were followed up with the diagnosis of Primary Dysmenorrhea in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of a local Hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to exercise, exercise+trigger point, and control groups using a computer-generated randomization list. The "Visual Analog Scale" was used to evaluate the severity of menstrual pain, "Menstruation Symptom Scale" was used to evaluate the severity of menstrual symptoms, and "SF-36" was used to evaluate the quality of life.

This controlled experimental study included 45 volunteers diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea by a gynecologist. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups using the "Research Randomizer" web program. The control group (n=14) received no intervention. The stretching exercise group (n=15) received only stretching exercises; the stretching and trigger point group (n=15) received stretching exercises plus trigger point massage of the quadratus lumborum, rectus abdominus, iliopsoas, and hip adductor muscles, all performed by the same trained physiotherapist. Study Inclusion Criteria: * Being a woman between the ages of 18 and 30, * Having a diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea, * Being a nulliparous, * Having a regular menstrual cycle (28 ± 7 days). Exclusion Criteria * Having rheumatic, gastrointestinal, psychiatric, surgical, or other chronic pain syndromes; * Being on any anti-inflammatory, analgesic, or non-convertible progestin pill (OCP) Participants in the control group were not included in the treatment program administered to the other participants for 8 weeks, but continued the NSAID medication prescribed by the doctor who diagnosed dysmenorrhea. Participants in the stretching group underwent a 45-minute exercise program twice a week, accompanied by a physiotherapist, for 8 weeks. Participants in the stretching exercises and trigger point massage group underwent a 45-minute exercise program twice a week, accompanied by a physiotherapist, for 8 weeks.