1. Comparative Effectiveness of Different Exercises for Reducing Pain Intensity in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Author
-
Tsai, I-Chen, Hsu, Chih-Wei, Chang, Chun-Hung, Lei, Wei-Te, Tseng, Ping-Tao, and Chang, Ke-Vin
- Subjects
TREATMENT of dysmenorrhea ,PAIN measurement ,RESEARCH funding ,EXERCISE therapy ,KEGEL exercises ,TREATMENT effectiveness ,META-analysis ,SYSTEMATIC reviews ,STRENGTH training ,YOGA ,MEDLINE ,PAIN management ,AEROBIC exercises ,MEDICAL databases ,ONLINE information services ,RELAXATION techniques ,EVALUATION - Abstract
Background: Studies have demonstrated that exercise can mitigate the intensity of menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea, but the most effective type of exercise remains unclear. The objective of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of different exercise regimens in reducing pain associated with primary dysmenorrhoea. Methods: Randomized controlled trials investigating the relationship between menstrual pain and exercise were selected from major electronic databases until February 2, 2024. The primary outcome was the effect of exercise on pain intensity measured by the mean difference on a 10-cm visual analogue scale at 4 and 8 weeks after intervention. The secondary outcome was the difference in risk of dropout at 8 weeks. The study protocol was registered as INPLASY202330050. Results: This systematic review and network meta-analysis included 29 randomized controlled trials, which involved 1808 participants with primary dysmenorrhea. Exercise interventions included relaxation exercise, strength training, aerobic activity, yoga, mixed exercise, and the Kegel maneuver. Relaxation exercise was the most effective in reducing menstrual pain in 4 weeks (− 3.56; 95% confidence interval: − 5.03 to − 2.08). All exercise interventions were effective in reducing menstrual pain at 8 weeks, with reductions ranging from − 3.87 (95% CI − 5.51 to − 2.22) for relaxation exercise to − 2.75 (95% CI − 4.00 to − 1.51) for yoga, compared to the control group. Relaxation exercises were found to have a significantly lower dropout risk (− 0.11; 95% CI − 0.20 to 0.02), while none of the exercise types was associated with a higher dropout risk than the control group. Conclusion: All exercise interventions were effective in reducing menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea after 8 weeks of intervention. However, relaxation exercise was found to be the most effective intervention at 4 and 8 weeks and had the lowest risk of dropout. Plain Language Summary: This analysis aimed to see how effective different types of exercise are in reducing pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. The researchers looked at 29 studies involving 1808 participants and evaluated six different types of exercise. The main outcome was the effect of pain reduction after 4 and 8 weeks of exercise. The researchers found that all types of exercise were effective in reducing menstrual pain after 8 weeks, with relaxation exercises being the most effective at both 4 and 8 weeks. None of the exercise types were associated with higher dropout risks than the control group, and relaxation exercise had a lower dropout risk than the other types of exercise. Key Points: Exercise can be an effective way to reduce menstrual pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Different types of exercise, including relaxation exercise, strength training, aerobic activity, yoga, mixed exercise, and the Kegel maneuver, have been found to be effective in reducing menstrual pain after 8 weeks. Relaxation exercises, such as progressive muscle relaxation and self-administered massage, have been found to be the most effective interventions for reducing menstrual pain at both 4 and 8 weeks, and they also have a lower risk of dropout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF