The Effect of Aerobic Exercise with Different Intensities on Pain, Menstrual Symptoms and Quality of Life in Adolescent Girls with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common disorders in adolescent girls. Exercise has positive effects on women with primary dysmenorrhea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three types of aerobic exercise with low, medium and high intensity on pain, quality of life, duration of pain and some menstrual symptoms in patients with primary dysmenorrhea.

This study is a randomized controlled trial. The study included 60 sedentary adolescent girls. Participants were divided into three training groups and a control group. The training protocol of the sports groups was performed three times a week for eight weeks. McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to assess the severity of pain and hourly pain was used to measure the duration of pain. The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and the abbreviated form of the WHOQOL Questionnaire were used to assess menstrual symptoms and quality of life, respectively.

 Research Ethics Code: IR.LUMS.REC.1400.043

The results showed that between three intensities of aerobic exercise for 8 weeks on pain (P = 0.133), duration of pain (P = 0.19) and menstrual symptoms (P = 0.239) in adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea Initial no significant difference was observed. In contrast, low-intensity aerobic exercise had a greater effect on improving the quality of life of adolescent girls with primary dysmenorrhea (P = 0.001).

Given the effects of aerobic exercise on quality of life and pain duration, this type of activity can probably be effective in improving this problem. However, due to its limitations, this study should be considered and its effectiveness cannot be conclusively confirmed.