Central Sensitisation, Dysmenorrhea Primary, Menstrual Discomfort, Myofascial Release, Myofascial Trigger Point Pain
Conditions
Keywords
myofascial release, trigger point, Central sensitization, Dysmenorrhea, sham
Brief summary
It has been found that women with dysmenorrhea have active trigger points, particularly in the rectus abdominis, oblique abdominal muscles, quadratus lumborum, and paraspinal muscles. The myofascial release technique is a widely used manual therapy method characterized by the application of low-load, long-duration mechanical forces to manipulate the myofascial complex. This technique aims to restore optimal length, alleviate pain, and improve function. This study aims to examine the effect of the myofascial release technique on central sensitization, myofascial trigger points, and menstrual symptoms in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
Detailed description
During the evaluation period, the participants' musculoskeletal pain threshold and tolerance will be measured using an algometer, about trigger points on the identified muscles (rectus abdominis, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae, and tibialis anterior). A total of 40 women, aged 18-40, diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea by a gynecologist, will be included in the study. The initial assessment of the participants will be conducted on their most painful days. Participants will be randomized into two groups: the myofascial release technique group (study group) and the placebo myofascial release technique group (control group). The interventions will be conducted over 10 sessions during one menstrual cycle, and all evaluations will be repeated after the treatment period. The study will be conducted as a double-blind trial, ensuring that both the evaluators and the patients are blind to the group assignments.
Interventions
OTHERMyofascial Release
The myofascial release technique is a widely used manual therapy method characterized by low-load, prolonged mechanical forces applied to manipulate the myofascial complex, aiming to restore optimal length, alleviate pain, and improve function.
OTHERSham-Myofascial Release
The hands of the researcher applying the technique will be placed in the same areas as the myofascial release technique, with only the palms in light contact for the same duration. However, no intervention will be made to create any pressure or open the tissue barrier.
Sponsors
Gazi University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosed with Primary Dysmenorrhea according to the Primary Dysmenorrhea Consensus Guide, * Having regular menstruation in the last 6 months (28±7 days) * Those who had menstrual pain between 40 mm and 100 mm according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in the last 6 months
Exclusion criteria
* Diagnosed with Secondary Dysmenorrhea, * Having given birth, * Those with serious gastrointestinal, urogynecological, or autoimmune diseases or other chronic pain syndromes, * Undergoing urogynecological surgery, * Those who are pregnant or suspected of pregnancy, * Those who use analgesics or non-pharmacological agents other than NSAIDs for menstrual pain, * Those using intrauterine or oral contraceptives, * Those taking extra supplements such as magnesium, which may affect treatment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Pressure Threshold | Baseline (First menstruation cycle) | Trigger points in specific muscles (rectus abdominis, paraspinal muscles, quadratus lumborum, gluteus maximus) will be determined. Then, it will be applied to the trigger points with the Baseline brand algometer in accordance with standard procedures and the pressure will be increased by 30 kPa/s. |
| Central Sensitization | Baseline (First menstruation cycle) | Pain threshold will be measured with an algometer at a certain point of the tibialis muscle. |
| Menstrual pain intensity | Baseline (First menstruation cycle) | Menstrual pain intensity will be determined by a 10 cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from zero (no pain at all) to 10 (worst pain I have ever felt). Higher scores mean worse conditions. Participants will be asked to mark the severity of pain they felt in the first 3 days of their last menstrual bleeding on 3 separate lines. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Menstrual Attitude | Baseline (First menstruation cycle) | Menstrual Attitude Scale will be used to evaluate symptoms related to menstruation. High scores indicate a high awareness of menstruation. |
| The Body Awareness | Baseline (First menstruation cycle) | The Body Awareness Questionnaire will be used to evaluate changes in individuals' body awareness. The questionnaire consists of 18 items and 4 subscales (predicting body reactions, sleep-wake cycle, predicting the onset of the disease, paying attention to changes in body processes). |
| Health-related quality of life | Baseline (First menstruation cycle) | Short Form (SF-36) will be used to evaluate individuals' general health-related quality of life. SF-36 is a 36-question survey that evaluates functionality and well-being and consists of 8 subscales. Each item is scored on a 0 to 100 range so that the lowest and highest possible scores are 0 and 100, respectively. Higher scores indicate a better quality of life. |
| Anxiety | Baseline (First menstruation cycle) | State and Trait Anxiety Scale is a self-assessment inventory that evaluates anxiety and consists of 40 items. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
Primary ContactResearch Asisstant
Outcome results
None listed