Effectiveness of group aerobic training on menstrual cycle symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea

Objective: Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecological problems among females but the evidence of alternative methods to cope with it is not enough. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a four-week group aerobic training program on premenstrual symptoms, menstrual symptoms, emotional state, and quality of life in females with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise group (AEG) (n=18) and control group (CG) (n=19). AEG attended to group aerobic training program, three times a week for four weeks while CG did not participate in a regular physical activity. Premenstrual Syndrome scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI,) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were conducted to the participants. The intensity of menstrual symptoms was assessed with visual analogue scale at seven different times within the first three days of menstruation phase. Initial and final assessments were performed in two consecutive months. Results: Premenstrual symptoms (p=0.012) and some of the menstrual symptoms including low back pain at the beginning of bleeding (p=0.012), and abdominal pain at the second hour decreased (p=0.021) in AEG. Additionally, social aspect domain of SF-36 significantly increased (p=0.044) after exercise while there were no significant differences in BAI, and BDI scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: Four-week group aerobic training program is effective in reducing premenstrual symptoms contributes to reduce menstrual symptoms and improve quality of life in females with primary dysmenorrhea. © 2019 Galenos Publishing House. All rights reserved