Premenstrual Syndrome
Conditions
Keywords
Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Kinesio Taping, Premenstrual Symptoms, Perceived Stress, Depressive Symptoms, Sleep Quality, University Students
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of progressive muscle relaxation exercise, kinesio taping, and their combined application on premenstrual symptoms, perceived stress, severity of depressive symptoms, and sleep quality among university students with premenstrual syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to progressive muscle relaxation, kinesio taping, combined progressive muscle relaxation and kinesio taping, or a control group. The interventions were implemented for 8 weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Detailed description
This four-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted among students from 13 faculties of Ankara University who met the eligibility criteria for premenstrual syndrome. Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio, using faculty-stratified randomization, to progressive muscle relaxation exercise, kinesio taping, combined progressive muscle relaxation exercise and kinesio taping, or a control group. The interventions were implemented over 8 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 1 month after completion of the intervention. Premenstrual symptoms were assessed as the primary outcome. Perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality were assessed as secondary outcomes. A total of 180 participants were initially randomized, with 45 participants assigned to each group. During the first intervention cycle, 14 participants discontinued the study: 2 from the control group, 4 from the kinesio taping group, 5 from the progressive muscle relaxation group, and 3 from the combined intervention group. Fourteen additional eligible participants were subsequently enrolled and allocated to the corresponding groups using the same faculty-stratified approach. Therefore, the total number of unique enrolled participants was 194. A total of 180 participants, 45 in each group, completed all assessments and were included in the complete-case analyses.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALProgressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise
Participants received supervised progressive muscle relaxation exercise involving the sequential tensing and relaxing of 16 muscle groups together with deep-breathing techniques. Two consecutive 20-minute sessions were conducted at each visit, resulting in 40 minutes of exercise. The intervention was delivered twice weekly for 8 weeks, for a total of 16 visits, and was initiated after menstrual bleeding had ended.
DEVICEKinesio Taping
During the luteal phase, an 8-cm strip of kinesio tape was applied vertically along the lower abdominal midline, and a 10-cm strip was applied horizontally across the vertical strip. The middle sections were applied with 25% tension, whereas the ends were applied without tension. The tape was replaced every 4 days during the luteal phase over two menstrual cycles and was reapplied if it detached prematurely. Each application lasted approximately 15 minutes, including preparation and participant instruction.
Sponsors
ASLI ER KORUCU
Hacettepe University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants were randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to four groups representing progressive muscle relaxation exercise only, kinesio taping only, both interventions, or neither intervention (control). This 2 × 2 factorial design evaluated the individual and combined effects of the two interventions over 8 weeks, followed by a 1-month follow-up.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Female university student enrolled in the second or third year of one of the participating faculties at Ankara University * Menstrual cycle length between 21 and 35 days * Premenstrual syndrome according to the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale * Residing in central Ankara * Volunteering to participate and providing written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Receiving medical treatment for premenstrual syndrome * Having a mental health condition or receiving treatment for such a condition * Receiving treatment for insomnia * Having a dermatological condition, such as an allergy or psoriasis * Having undergone surgery involving the lumbar or abdominal region * Experiencing difficulty communicating in Turkish
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Premenstrual Syndrome Scale | Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 1 month after completion of the intervention | Premenstrual symptom severity was assessed using the 44-item Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS). Each item is scored from 1 to 5, yielding a total score ranging from 44 to 220. Higher scores indicate greater premenstrual symptom severity. |
| Perceived Stress Scale | Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 1 month after completion of the intervention | Perceived stress was assessed using the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Each item is scored from 0 to 4, with seven positively worded items reverse-scored, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 56. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress. |
| Beck Depression Inventory | Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 1 month after completion of the intervention | Depressive symptom severity was assessed using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Each item is scored from 0 to 3, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms. The inventory was used to assess symptom severity and not to establish a clinical diagnosis of depression. |
| Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index | Baseline, immediately after the 8-week intervention, and 1 month after completion of the intervention | Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Seven component scores derived from 19 self-reported items are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality, and a total score greater than 5 indicates poor sleep quality. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAslı Er Korucu, Assistant Professor
Ankara University
STUDY_DIRECTORFüsun Terzioğlu, Professor
Istanbul Aydın University
Outcome results
None listed