title: Comparing the effects of aerobic and stretching exercises on the intensity of primary dysmenorrhea in the students of universities of bushehr.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of aerobic and stretching exercises on severity of primary dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 105 female students who were suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. The participants were divided into aerobic exercise, stretching exercise, and control groups. The two intervention groups did the exercises three times a week for eight weeks (two menstrual cycles). The intensity of dysmenorrhea was determined using a modified questionnaire that assessed several symptoms of dysmenorrhea. After all, the data were compared between and within groups through analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the intervention, the mean intensity of dysmenorrhea was 40.38 ± 5.5, 37.40 ± 3.8, and 38.45±3.3 in aerobic, stretching, and control groups, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant. After the intervention, however, a significant difference was found among the three groups regarding the mean intensity of dysmenorrhea in the first and second menstrual cycles. Also, a significant difference was observed between the aerobic group and the control group as well as between the stretching group and the control group. Within group comparisons showed a significant difference in the aerobic and the stretching group before and after the interventions. However, no such difference was observed in control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both aerobic and stretching exercises were effective in reducing the severity of dysmenorrhea. Therefore, women could choose one of these two methods with regard to their interest and lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: Department of midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaziri
authors.affiliation: Department of midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoseini
authors.affiliation: Department of midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.affiliation: Department of midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Khadijeh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abdali
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamadjavad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadianfard
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sayadi
keywords: Aerobic exercise; Exercise; Primary dysmenorrhea; Stretching exercise