NCT07436507

Brief Summary

What is this study about? Dysmenorrhea, commonly known as painful period, is a common gynecological symptom experienced by several women of reproductive age. This particular type of pain arises during the menstrual cycle, often negatively impacting the quality of life and ability to successfully carry out daily activities and academic or work performance. This is study will involve physiotherapy treatment in the form of a home-based exercise program for those experiencing dysmenorrhea. The purpose of this study is to determine how effective this exercise intervention is by assessing the pain score, menstrual symptoms, gait performance and cognitive-motor control.

Trial Health

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
86

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
11mo left

Started Jul 2026

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 21, 2026

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 27, 2026

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 6, 2026

Expected
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 30, 2027

1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 31, 2027

Last Updated

May 13, 2026

Status Verified

May 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

10 months

First QC Date

February 21, 2026

Last Update Submit

May 10, 2026

Conditions

Dysmenorrhea Primary

Keywords

Dysmenorrhea PrimaryHome exercise programDual-Task Gait PerformanceCognitive Motor Control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Pain intensity

    Pain intensity is self-reported on the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VAS Pain), which is a continuous scale in the form of a 100mm line, marked by "no pain" (score of 0) on one end and "pain as bad as it could be" (score of 100) on the other end. The participant is required to make a perpendicular line on the VAS scale that they feel best represent their pain intensity. Change in the pain intensity at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention will be noted.

    Baseline and 8 weeks

  • Cortical Silent Period

    Cortical silent period (CSP) will be assessed using the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) apparatus. Single-pulse TMS will be administered using a figure-of-eight coil positioned over the primary motor cortex. CSP duration (ms) will be measured from the MEP onset to return of voluntary EMG activity following cortical stimulation. The minimal effective stimulation intensity will be used to ensure participant safety. Changes at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention will be noted.

    Baseline and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Dual-Task Gait Performance

    Baseline and 8 weeks

  • Dual-Task Cognitive Performance

    Baseline and 8 weeks

  • Electroencephalography (EEG) data

    Baseline and 8 weeks

  • Dysmenorrhea impact

    Baseline and 8 weeks

  • Menstrual Symptoms and Distress

    Baseline and 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL
Other: Home-exercise program

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Waitlist control group

Interventions

Home-exercise programOTHER

The participants will then be given a clear explanation of the exercises to be performed as part of the home-based exercise program. They will be provided with a demonstrations video that will guide each session. Each exercise session will last for 30 minutes, 3/week, for 8 weeks. Participants will perform 10 minutes of progressive muscle relaxation exercise, followed by 10 minutes of core exercises, and finally 10 mintes of stretching exercises. They will required to complete an exercise diary. Exercise progressions will be applied across weeks 3-4 and again at weeks 5-6 and 7-8 (e.g., increased hold durations, repetitions, and resistance band progression for core exercises).

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 25 Years
Sexfemale(Gender-based eligibility)
Gender Eligibility DetailsBiological females
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • single
  • years
  • meet the diagnostic criteria for PD as outlined in the Primary Dysmenorrhea Consensus Guidelines - first onset of menstrual pain 6-24 months after menarche, pain lasting 8-72h in a cycle, and the most severe pain on the 1st or 2nd day of menstruation
  • having a regular menstrual cycle (28 ± 7 days)
  • menstrual pain intensity ≥4 cm on VAS in the previous 6 months
  • absence of any known medical condition

You may not qualify if:

  • history of pelvic surgery
  • history and/or findings of secondary dysmenorrhea
  • history of mental or physical diseases
  • history of joint, motion, muscle, or bone diseases which reduce the abilities to exercise
  • being a professional athlete
  • taking analgesic or non-pharmacological agents other than NSAID for menstrual pain
  • used an intrauterine device or oral contraceptive pill
  • metal implants, including pacemaker
  • history of non-normal brain activity, including seizures

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Graduate TA - PhD, Physiotherapy

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 21, 2026

First Posted

February 27, 2026

Study Start (Estimated)

July 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 31, 2027

Last Updated

May 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share