Effect of stretching exercises on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls / Marwa Gamal Mohammed Ali ; Supervised Soheir Mahmoud Elkosery , Khaled Fathy Helal

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Gynecology and Obstetrics

Dysmenorrhea is the most common complaint and gynecological disorder worldwide among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stretching exercises on dysmenorrheal symptoms. Thirty girls suffered from primary dysmenorrhea. Their age ranged from 15-20 years old, their BMI ranged from 18.5 -25 kg/m², they were selected from Nursing School in Zagazig University and they didn{u2019}t receive any anti-inflammatory or antispasmodic drugs during the study. Randomly divided into 2 groups: an experimental group A (n = 15) who received physical therapy treatment program included six types of stretch training on (abdominal, lower back, pelvis and thigh muscles) for 12 weeks, 3 times per week, 2 times per day. A control group (n = 15) who received no treatment program. They were evaluated by using Present Pain Intensity (PPi) scale, Pain relief (PR) scale and Plasma cortisol level before and after 1st, 3rd month. Results After12 weeks, pain intensity was reduced from 3 to 1, pain relief was increased from 1 to 3, and Plasma cortisol level was decreased from 15.71 to 6.76 in the experimental group. : In group A Present Pain Intensity (PPi), Pain relief (PR) and Plasma cortisol level showed a highly significant (p < 0.001) improvement in pain. In group B, Present Pain Intensity (PPi), Pain relief (PR) and Plasma cortisol level showed non significant(P>0.05) improvement in pain. Conclusions: Stretching exercises on (abdominal, lower back, pelvis and thigh muscles) were effective in reducing pain intensity, pain duration, in primary dysmenorrhea

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