The effect of Kegel exercises on pain and quality of life in girls aged 18 to 25 years with primary dysmenorrhea

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Senior Expert in Sports Pathology and Corrective Movements, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Sports Pathology and Corrective Movements, Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract

aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Kegel exercises on pain and quality of life in girls aged 18 to 25 years with primary dysmenorrhea.

In the present quasi-experimental study 40 single girls in Bandar Abbas referred to the clinic were selected sampling and availability and divided randomly into two groups; one experimental group and one control group .The experimental group received the treatment (Kegel exercises for 10-15 minutes, three times a week) for 12 weeks, but the control group received no treatment .VAS was measured and rate pain and rate of Quality-of-Life was recorded. All of the above variables were measured both before and after the treatment.The data were analyzed through Analysis of Covariance at the significance level of P≤0.05.

The results showed that there was a significant improvement on the scores obtained from the measuring pain scores and pain intensity scores of the experimental group after 12 weeks of receiving therapeutic exercises (P=0.001), whereas no such significant improvement was observed in the control group. The results also suggest a significant difference in the Quality-of-Life scores of the experimental group after receiving the treatment(P=0.001), but there was no such significant difference in the control group.

Considering the results of the current study, it seems that the selected Kegel exercises can reduce the severity and duration of primary dysmenorrhea pain, Therefore, Kegel exercise may be effective in treating primary dysmenorrhea and improving the quality of life of these individuals.

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