Comparative Effects of Aerobic Exercises and Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation Technique in Primary Dysmenorrhea

NCT07628452 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/25/0514
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 58
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study will focus on the comparative effects of aerobic exercises and Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea. This study will be a randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in, Superior college depalpur and Army public schools and college Lahore (APSACS). Non probability convenience sampling will be used to collect the data.64 participants will be selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria and will be equally divided into two groups by sealed opaque enveloped .Participants having age group between 17-24 years and diagnosed with WaLiDD score are included.

Conditions

Dysmenorrhea

Keywords

aerobic exercise; quality of life,; dysmenorrhea,; female,; Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• WaLlDD relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.

  At baseline, the participant scored at the initial level on the WaLliDD scale, indicating their starting status. Over time, changes in the score reflect improvement or decline in the measured outcome. An increase in score suggests positive progress in the targeted domain, while a decrease indicates reduced functioning or worsening condition compared to baseline.

  2 months

• Fatigue Assessment Scale

  At baseline, the participant's fatigue level is measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale, providing a starting score of perceived fatigue. Changes in the score over time indicate variation in fatigue severity. A decrease from baseline reflects improvement (reduced fatigue), while an increase indicates worsening fatigue compared to the initial assessment.

  2 months

• EQ-5D-5-L-Questionnaire

  The EQ-5D-5L is a standardized questionnaire used to assess health-related quality of life. It measures five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, each rated on five levels of severity. It also includes a visual analog scale (VAS) where individuals rate their overall health. Higher scores indicate better perceived health status.

  2 months

Study Arms (2)

aerobic exercises

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group A will receive aerobic exercises for 3 times in a week.

Other: aerobic exercises

Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique

EXPERIMENTAL

Group B will receive Jacobson\'s progressive relaxation technique for 3 times in a week.

Other: Jacobson's relaxation technique

Interventions

aerobic exercises OTHER

Group A Duration of forty five minutes Warm up exercises for 10 minutes. Free active movement of upper limb, lower limb, and upper body, cross toe to touch dynamic stretches such as lunges, Achilles tendon and hamstrings stretching. The aerobic workout duration will be 25mins.. The aerobic exercise involved the following steps with15reps of each exercise and while changing the step slow marching step for 15second and then move towards the next step. single step touch, double step touch, step touch front and back ,grapevine, knee lift , lunge side and back, L step ,V step, jumping jacks. Cool down exercises for 10 minutes included slow marching, quadriceps and hamstring and stretching. Subjects were prohibited from aerobics during menstruation and data were recorded for two menstrual cycles.

aerobic exercises

Jacobson's relaxation technique OTHER

Group B Jacobson's relaxation technique is a type of therapy that focuses on tightening and relaxing specific muscle groups in a sequence that makes you feel calmer and makes you aware of your body and physical sensations. It is also known as PMRT. (39) JPRT was applied three times a week from the estimated date of ovulation to the onset of the next menstruation. . The participants were in a supine position and were supported with cushions. The JPRT involves participants actively contracting muscles to create tension and then progressively releasing them. First of all, the participants were asked to contract the muscles tightly and hold for slow count of 5seconds (s) and then relax them completely for 10 s. At the same time, the participants practiced diaphragmatic breathing. The participants repeatedly performed JPMRT for each body part. Each session lasted about 20-30 min.

Also known as: Aerobic exercises and hypopressive

Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 17 Years - 24 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Primary Dysmenorrhea, Having a regular menstrual cycle (28-32) days, Normal bleeding days (3 to 1) and diagnosed with mild PD according to WaLiDD score
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Pain on numeric rating pain scale,
• Menarche range 12-16,
• BMI less than 30,
• Having a regular menstrual cycle (28-32) days,
• Normal bleeding days (3 to 1) and diagnosed with mild PD according to WaLiDD score

You may not qualify if:

• Athletes,
• married women with gynaecological abnormalities were excluded,
• Medical treatment during the study (e.g., oral contraceptives, antidepressants)
• Recent musculoskeletal trauma or surgery, or chronic musculoskeletal disorders
• affecting pain perception (e.g., fibromyalgia, pelvic floor dysfunction)
• secondary dysmenorrhea-related conditions (e.g., endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts),
• consumption of painkillers
• No mental or physical diseases, which reduce the abilities to exercise

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Superior college for women and Polytechnic institute

Okāra, Punjab Province, 52513, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• Gittens A, Griffiths-Bandoo S, Eccleston A, Irving SW, Dawkins JJJMCNS. How Does Primary Dysmenorrhea Impact the Quality of Life of Young Women Ages (18-35) in a Selected Community in St. James, Jamaica. 2025;3(2):1-4.

  BACKGROUND

• Wu X, Yuan J, Ni J, Ma X, Zhang Z, Hua Y, et al. Electroacupuncture with different waveforms for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial. 2024;11(3):357-62.

  BACKGROUND

• Esan DT, Ariyo SA, Akinlolu EF, Akingbade O, Olabisi OI, Olawade DB, et al. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its effect on the quality of life of female undergraduate students in Nigeria. 2024;5:100059.

  BACKGROUND

• Dar M, Khan A, Shah SS, Aleem A, Jaber AAS, Hussain M, Khan GM. Evaluation of health-related quality of life of female students suffering from primary dysmenorrhea: findings of a cross-sectional study from Pakistan. Front Public Health. 2025 Apr 24;13:1467377. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1467377. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 40342508 BACKGROUND

• Raule EB, Sapulete IM, Engka JNAJJII. Relationship Between Premenstrual Syndrome (Pms) And Appetite In Female Medical Students At Sam Ratulangi University. 2025;4(1):1071-9.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dysmenorrhea

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Menstruation Disturbances; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pelvic Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Hafiza Iqra Rubab, MSWHPT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Imran Amjad, PhD

CONTACT

03324390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Posted: June 5, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2026
• Study Completion: July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)