<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim</italic>: To assess the effect of one term of stretching exercise on primary dysmenorrhea in high school students.<italic>Material and methods:</italic> 179 single girls aged 15-17 years with moderate-to-severe primary dysmenorrhea were selected
from 6 high schools located in 2 different city zones. The students were non-athletes and volunteered for the study.
The participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: an experimental group (n = 124) and a control group (n = 55).
In the intervention group, the subjects were requested to complete an active stretching exercise for 8 weeks (3 days
per week, 2 times per day, 10 minutes each time) at home. In the pre-test, all of subjects were examined for pain intensity
(10-point scale), pain duration, and the use of sedative tablets in 2 continuous menstruation cycles. The posttest
was examined 8 weeks later.<italic>Results</italic>: After 8 weeks, pain intensity was reduced from 7.65 to 4.88, pain duration was decreased from 7.48 to 3.86
hours, and use of sedative tablets was decreased from 1.65 to 0.79 tablets in the experimental group (p&lt;0.05). In the
control group, a significant decline was only noted for pain duration (p&lt;0.001).<italic>Conclusions</italic>: Stretching exercises are effective in reducing pain intensity, pain duration, and the amount of painkillers
used by girls with primary dysmenorrhea.</abstract>

Study aim: To assess the effect of one term of stretching exercise on primary dysmenorrhea in high school students.Material and methods: 179 single girls aged 15-17 years with moderate-to-severe primary dysmenorrhea were selected
from 6 high schools located in 2 different city zones. The students were non-athletes and volunteered for the study.
The participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: an experimental group (n = 124) and a control group (n = 55).
In the intervention group, the subjects were requested to complete an active stretching exercise for 8 weeks (3 days
per week, 2 times per day, 10 minutes each time) at home. In the pre-test, all of subjects were examined for pain intensity
(10-point scale), pain duration, and the use of sedative tablets in 2 continuous menstruation cycles. The posttest
was examined 8 weeks later.Results: After 8 weeks, pain intensity was reduced from 7.65 to 4.88, pain duration was decreased from 7.48 to 3.86
hours, and use of sedative tablets was decreased from 1.65 to 0.79 tablets in the experimental group (p<0.05). In the
control group, a significant decline was only noted for pain duration (p<0.001).Conclusions: Stretching exercises are effective in reducing pain intensity, pain duration, and the amount of painkillers
used by girls with primary dysmenorrhea.

Effects of stretching exercises on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent
girls

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Arak, Iran

Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences,
Iran

Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Department, Okan University, Tuzla Kampusu Istanbul, Turkey

Biomedical Human Kinetics

{"article-title":"Effects of stretching exercises on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent\ngirls"}

Study aim: To assess the effect of one term of stretching exercise on primary dysmenorrhea in high school students.Material and methods: 179 single girls aged...

Effects of stretching exercises on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls

Published Online: Dec 28, 2012

Page range: 127 - 132

Received: Jul 09, 2012

Accepted: Dec 17, 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-012-0024-y

Keywords
Muscle exercise stretching, Dysmenorrhea, Adolescence

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