The Therapeutic Role of Kinesio Taping in Primary Dysmenorrhea

NCT07145424 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: ADU-FTR-EG-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common causes of disability in women's health worldwide. It affects women's daily activities and negatively affects their social life. It increases healthcare costs and constitutes a significant burden for both women and society. Therefore, interventions to improve dysmenorrhea are needed. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of kinesio taping (KT) intervention on pain, muscle strength, functional disability, physical activity level, and quality of life. Methods: Participants with primary dysmenorrhea were divided into kinesio taping (KT) and control (C) groups. The KT group underwent consecutive taping for 12 days starting from the premenstrual week. Trunk muscle strength evaluation, visual analogue scale (VAS), the pressure pain threshold, menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ), SF-36 quality of life scale, Oswestry disability index (ODI), international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) were used as outcome measures.

Conditions

Primary Dysmenorrhea; Pain Management

Keywords

dysmenorrhea; quality of life; rehabilitation; pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Visual analogue scale

  The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the intensity of menstrual pain experienced by participants.It is a valid, reliable, and easily understandable scale that has been employed in research to assess the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. VAS is widely recognized as the most common quantitative measure for assessing the intensity of pain, where "0" represents no pain and "10" represents the most severe pain experienced .

  from baseline to 4th week

• Pressure pain threshold assessment

  Trigger points, whether active or latent, can contribute to increased muscle tension and subsequently lead to musculoskeletal pain. The pressure pain threshold at trigger points in the lumbar region was assessed using an analog algometer. Participants were instructed to indicate when they first experienced pain, and the corresponding pressure value was documented .

  from baseline to 4th week

• Muscle strength measurement

  A handheld dynamometer (Lafayette Instrument Company, Lafayette®, Lafayette, LA, USA) was used to evaluate the maximal muscle strength of the trunk muscles. This device represents a cost-effective and portable tool for assessing muscular strength, which is commonly employed in clinical settings due to its high reliability and validity relative to more sophisticated laboratory-based dynamometers. Participants were instructed to exert maximum muscle force against the fixed dynamometer held by the therapist, and their strength was measured. To assess trunk flexor strength, participants were positioned in supine with knees slightly bent, arms at their sides, and head in neutral. The dynamometer was placed on the midpoint of the sternum, and participants were asked to lift their scapulae from the floor. Trunk extensor strength was evaluated with participants in the prone position.

  from baseline to 4th week

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ)

  from baseline to 4th week

• SF-36 quality of life scale

  from baseline to 4th week

• Oswestry disability index

  from baseline to 4th week

• International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)

  From baseline to 4th week

Study Arms (2)

kinesio taping group

EXPERIMENTAL

kinesio taping was applied to the KT group taping was initiated during the participants' second menstrual cycle

Other: kinesio taping group

control

NO INTERVENTION

This group only received assessments.

Interventions

kinesio taping group OTHER

The original Kinesio Tape (Kinesio Tex Classic Tape) was used for taping by a physiotherapist with 15 years of experience in the field. The tape was cut into an I-shape and applied to the lower abdominal and lumbo-sacral regions where the participants experienced pain, 10 days prior to the anticipated start of menstruation (Figure 2). The tapes were renewed after four days. This procedure was performed three times and the total taping period was completed as 12 days. The tapes were removed on the third day of menstruation and all outcome measurements were performed again for the post intervention measurements

kinesio taping group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Only females who are currently going through monthly menstruation cycles (21-35 days)
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being between the ages of 18-30
• No hormonal contraception or intrauterine devices in the last 3 months
• Regular menstruation (every 21-35 days) for the last 6 months
• Pain score of 5 or more according to VAS.

You may not qualify if:

• Gynecological diseases
• Chronic systemic diseases
• Pregnancy or multiparousus
• Psychotherapeutic medications

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aydin Adnan Menderes University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Aydın Adnan Menderes University

Aydin, Efeler, 09200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Agnosia; Dysmenorrhea; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Menstruation Disturbances; Pathologic Processes; Pelvic Pain

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants were blinded to their group assignments. Outcome assessors were not blinded.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2025
• First Posted: August 28, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2022
• Study Completion: May 1, 2022
• Last Updated: August 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)