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

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as painful menstruation in the absence of pelvic pathology. Connective tissue manipulation (CTM) is one of the specific manual therapy techniques which stimulates autonomic responses via cutaneous-visceral reflexes. purpose of this study: to investigate the effect of connective tissue manipulation on primary dysmenorrhea. Subjects and methods: this study was carried upon 30 females suffering from primary dysmenorrhea.Their age ranged from 18 to 25 years old and their BMI was less than 30 kg/m2. They were selected from Abu-kabir central hospital{u2013} Al Sharquia.The participants were randomly distributed in two groups equal in number. Control group (A) consisted of 15 females who received TENS during the first three days of menstrual cycle and this was repeated on the second consecutive menstrual cycle.Study group (B) consisted of 15 females who received connective tissue manipulation for 20 minutes/session, 5 session/week for a total of 10 sessions per cycle for two consecutive cycles (The sessions start before menstruation by two weeks) in addition to TENS treatment as described for group A. All females in both groups (A and B) were assessed pre and post treatment by using, visual analogue scaleand cortisol level. Results:The results revealed that pre-treatment, there was a non- statistical significant difference between two groups in mean value of VAS and cortisol level with p-value was (P=0.889) & (P=0.293) respectively. Post-treatment, there was statistical significant reduction between two groups in mean value of VAS and cortisol level with p-value was (p=0.0001) & (p=0.029) respectively, in favour of group B. Conclusion: Connective tissue manipulation could be used as an effective treatment in reducing the amount of pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea.as it is safe and non-invasive therapeutic technique

Issued also as CD