Faculty Advisor(s)
Amy Tremback-Ball
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Abstract
Background and aims: Primary dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, is common in menstruating females. However, in some, it can cause intense pain, disrupt activities of daily living, and impact quality of life. The treatment of dysmenorrhea does not traditionally include physical therapy. A systematic review was conducted to explore the role of physical therapy in treating dysmenorrhea. Methods: A search was performed in August 2020 and January 2021 using EBSCOhost, Academic Search Ultimate, CINAHL Complete, and MEDLINE. Search terms included exercise or physical activity or fitness AND dysmenorrhea or menstrual pain or painful menstruation. Inclusion criteria were articles that were peer-reviewed, published in the last 10 years, and available in full text in English. All articles included in the review were analyzed for quality on a hierarchy of evidence scale.
Results: 22 results were included in this systematic review. 19 articles were level 2 and 3 articles were level 3 on the hierarchy of evidence scale. The Visual Analog Scale and Menstrual Distress Questionnaire were the widely utilized outcome measures used to determine the effectiveness of the interventions. Interventions including aerobic exercise, stretching, kinesio taping, aquatic therapy, acupressure, yoga, core stability, positional activities, spinal manipulation, and patient education have shown to be effective.
Conclusions: Physical therapy can assist in the reduction of pain and other symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea. Overall, articles indicated that aerobic exercise, stretching, and core stability yielded the greatest improvement in patient symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Physicians should consider recommending physical therapy to patients with symptoms that disrupt their activities of daily living.
Publication Date
2021
Document Type
Poster
Department
Physical Therapy
Keywords
primary dysmenorrhea, physical therapy, exercise, menstrual pain
Disciplines
Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications | Kinesiotherapy | Movement and Mind-Body Therapies | Musculoskeletal System | Physical Therapy | Urogenital System
Recommended Citation
Hammond, Emily; Applegate, Abigail; Caldwell, Emma; Witmer, Hayley; and Tremback-Ball, Amy, "Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Interventions for Women with Dysmenorrhea: a Systematic Review" (2021). Student Research Poster Presentations 2021. 8.
https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/research_posters2021/8
Included in
Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Commons, Kinesiotherapy Commons, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons, Musculoskeletal System Commons, Physical Therapy Commons, Urogenital System Commons