Some physiotherapy treatments may relieve menstrual pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review.

Abstract

QUESTION:

In women with primary dysmenorrhoea, what is the effect of physiotherapeutic interventions compared to control (either no treatment or placebo/sham) on pain and quality of life?

DESIGN:

Systematic review of randomised trials with meta-analysis.

PARTICIPANTS:

Women with primary dysmenorrhea.

INTERVENTION:

Any form of physiotherapy treatment.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

The primary outcome was menstrual pain intensity and the secondary outcome was quality of life.

RESULTS:

The search yielded 222 citations. Of these, 11 were eligible randomised trials and were included in the review. Meta-analysis revealed statistically significant reductions in pain severity on a 0-10 scale from acupuncture (weighted mean difference 2.3, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.9) and acupressure (weighted mean difference 1.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.9), when compared to a control group receiving no treatment. However, these are likely to be placebo effects because when the control groups in acupuncture/acupressure trials received a sham instead of no treatment, pain severity did not significantly differ between the groups. Significant reductions in pain intensity on a 0-10 scale were noted in individual trials of heat (by 1.8, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.7), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (2.3, 95% CI 0.03 to 4.2), and yoga (3.2, 95% CI 2.2 to 4.2). Meta-analysis of two trials of spinal manipulation showed no significant reduction in pain. None of the included studies measured quality of life.

CONCLUSION:

Physiotherapists could consider using heat, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and yoga in the management of primary dysmenorrhea. While benefits were also identified for acupuncture and acupressure in no-treatment controlled trials, the absence of significant effects in sham-controlled trials suggests these effects are mainly attributable to placebo effects.

• Authors: Priya Kannan, Leica Sarah Claydon
• Journal: Journal of physiotherapy (J Physiother) Vol. 60 Issue 1 Pg. 13-21 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1836-9561 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24856936 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Australian Physiotherapy Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Acupressure
• Acupuncture
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Dysmenorrhea (therapy)
• Electric Stimulation Therapy
• Female
• Hot Temperature
• Humans
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care
• Physical Therapy Modalities
• Quality of Life
• Treatment Outcome
• Yoga
• Young Adult