title: Effect of a physiotherapy program in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a physiotherapy program for relieving symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea among Mexican women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-center, prospective, experimental, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. This cross-sectional study was performed at the Universidad Politécnica de Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Female patients with primary dysmenorrhea, age of 18-22 years; pain intensity from 4 to 10cm on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); and sedentary lifestyle were included. The patients were then randomized to receive a physiotherapy program for three months or to no intervention program. The physiotherapy program consisted of overall stretching, specific stretches, Kegel exercises, jogging, and relaxation exercises. Patient evaluations of symptomatology and pain intensity were recorded basally and throughout for three menstrual periods. The data were entered into a computerized database for descriptive and inferential statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A per-protocol population of eighty three women with a mean age of 20.2±1.8 years underwent the physiotherapy program, and seventy seven participants with a mean age of 20.4±1.2 years received no treatment. The participant assessments of pain on the VAS during the second and the third menstrual cycles demonstrated a significant reduction in the treatment group (p<0.05) compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that strengthening, stretching and muscle relaxation techniques, in addition to jogging, are effective for reducing dysmenorrheic symptoms when they are regularly performed.
authors: Área Académica de Medicina del Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico; Universidad del Futbol y Ciencias del Deporte, San Agustín Tlaxiaca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Electronic address: mario_i_ortiz@hotmail.com.
authors: Mario I
authors: MI
authors: Ortiz
authors: Universidad Politécnica de Pachuca, Zempoala, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors: Sandra Kristal
authors: SK
authors: Cortés-Márquez
authors: Área Académica de Medicina del Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors: Luis C
authors: LC
authors: Romero-Quezada
authors: Universidad del Futbol y Ciencias del Deporte, San Agustín Tlaxiaca, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Murguía-Cánovas
authors: Universidad Politécnica de Pachuca, Zempoala, Hidalgo, Mexico.
authors: Alfonso P
authors: AP
authors: Jaramillo-Díaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Mexican women; Physical exercise; Physiotherapy program; Primary dysmenorrhea