Managing Menstrual Pain: The Effect of Abdominal Massage and Exercise

Dysmenorrhea, also known as menstrual cramps, is a common gynecological problem experienced by many women during their menstrual cycle. It is estimated that about 50% to 90% of women experience dysmenorrhea during their reproductive years. Dysmenorrhea can cause pain and discomfort, which can interfere with daily activities.

Symptoms

The severity of dysmenorrhea symptoms can vary from mild discomfort to severe pain, lasting several days. Dysmenorrhea can cause other symptoms, such as fatigue, mood changes, and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Clinical Trial

A study aimed to investigate the effect of abdominal massage and stretching exercises on dysmenorrhea symptoms, menstrual blood loss, and pain severity in university students. This single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial included 63 university students randomly assigned to one of three groups: massage, exercise, or control. The massage group received abdominal massage, the exercise group performed stretching exercises, and the control group received no intervention.

The participants completed a questionnaire to assess their dysmenorrhea symptoms, including pain severity, fatigue, mood changes, and menstrual blood loss. The questionnaire was completed before and during the second menstrual cycle after the intervention.

Results

The study showed that the massage group had significantly lower scores for abdominal-back pain and fatigue during the second menstrual cycle after the intervention. The exercise group had significantly lower scores for mood changes during the second menstrual cycle after the intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding pain severity, as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, or menstrual blood loss.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that abdominal massage and stretching exercises may effectively alleviate dysmenorrhea symptoms in university students. The abdominal massage effectively reduced abdominal-back pain and fatigue, while stretching exercises effectively reduced mood changes. While these interventions may not eliminate dysmenorrhea symptoms, they may offer a safe and non-invasive alternative to traditional pain medication. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of these interventions on dysmenorrhea symptoms.
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