A Study To Compare The Effects Of Aerobic Exercise Versus Core Strengthening Exercise Among College Girls With Primary Dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea means cramping pain accompanying menstruation. Prevalence and incidence of dysmenorrhea in Indian adolescent girls is about 70.2% and 33.5%. Primary dysmenorrhea is indicated by lower abdominal pain which may radiate to the thigh and lower back, causing nausea, vomiting, mood swings, headache, fatigue and diarrhoea. The objective of the study is to compare the effect of aerobic exercise versus strengthening of core muscles exercise among college going girls with primary dysmenorrhea. It is an experimental study conducted with 30 samples, ranging between the age group of 18-25 years, who were treated for a session of 40 min per day. The treatment was given for 3 days per week, which was continued for 8 weeks. The samples were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Samples were randomly divided into two groups, namely Group A and Group B, where Group A consists of 15 samples and B consists of 15 samples. Group A was trained with aerobic exercise and Group B was trained with core strengthening with a mini stability ball. Both groups were trained for 40 mins per day for 3 days per week for 8 weeks. The training was not given during the period of the menstrual cycle. The study showed that pain intensity was decreased significantly in both the groups with Group A at p=0.0001 and Group B at p<0.0001 with MMDQ and Group A at p=0.0006 and Group B at p=0.0025 with VMSS. Hence, this study concluded that core strengthening exercise is more effective in reducing pain intensity. Hence, it can be used as one of the alternate therapies for pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea.