Effectiveness of Acupressure on Reduction of Pain during Primary Dysmenorrhoea among Late Adolescent Girls

Acupressure is an ancient method for pain management as well as effective to treat variety of acute and chronic disorders. It treats the body in the energy level. Acupressure points are found along the energy meridians running on the surface of the skin. It has been reported that dysmenorrhoea can be successfully relieved by acupressure. The focus of the study is to determine the effectiveness of acupressure on reduction of pain during primary dysmenorrhoea among late adolescent girls in selected hostel, Chennai. The hypothesis of this study was that there is no significant relationship between acupressure and the level of pain during Primary dysmenorrhoea among late adolescent girls. Extensive review of literature facilitates the investigator to collect the relevant information of facts to support the study, select problem, and design the methodology for conceptual framework and to develop the tool for data collection. The conceptual framework of this study was based on modified theory of caring by Kristen. M. Swanson. The researcher adopted a pre experimental one group pre test post test design. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the late adolescent girls. The researcher introduced herself to the late adolescent girls and purpose of the study was explained to them to ensure better co-operation. Written consent was obtained from the late adolescent girls. The required data was collected by using 0 – 10 Numeric Rating Scale for data collection. In this study the late adolescent girls those who were having primary dysmenorrhoea in 1st day or 2nd day of menstruation were selected. Standard scale of 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale was used for assessing the level of pain among late adolescent girls with primary dysmenorrhoea. Acupressure was given with the help of thumb finger at sanyinjiao (spleen6 point) located at 4 fingers width from the ankle bone towards calf muscles for 5 minutes on each leg in 2 cycles for a total period of 20 minutes. Post assessment was done on level of pain by using same scale after one hour of intervention. Analysis revealed that acupressure was effective in reducing the level of pain among late adolescent girls