A Pilot Study to Know the State of Knowledge of Exercise Therapy for Relieving Pain in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Zeltia NE, Olalla B and Paula CS

Department of Physiotherapy, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of A Coruña, Spain
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal
Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), University of Porto (FADEUP) and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Portugal
Center for Research in Rehabilitation, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal

^*Correspondance to: Zeltia Naia-Entonado 

 PDF  Full Text Research Article | Open Access

Abstract:

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain in the absence of pathology, is the main cause of gynecological consultation in young women. Physical agents, used in physiotherapy for therapeutic purposes, can be used by women with primary dysmenorrhea. Exercise therapy is recommended in clinical practice guidelines for relieving menstrual pain. Objective: To determine if women with PD from University of A Coruña (Spain) know therapeutic exercise as a physical agent to relieve pain in primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 48 students of University of A Coruña, Spain, in January 2021. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used. Data was collected through a self-administered online questionnaire to identify whether exercise therapy was known and used by women with primary dysmenorrhea. Results: 40 responses were obtained. Just 18 students (45%) met the inclusion criteria. Among them, just 2 (11.1%) knew exercise therapy as a useful physical agent for relieving menstrual pain. Conclusion: Even though therapeutic exercise is identified in some studies as effective in reducing menstrual pain, it’s hardly known for the sample.

Keywords:

Dysmenorrhea; Menstrual pain; Exercise therapy

Cite the Article:

Zeltia NE, Olalla B, Paula CS. A Pilot Study to Know the State of Knowledge of Exercise Therapy for Relieving Pain in Primary Dysmenorrhea. Clin Case Rep Int. 2023; 7: 1491.