Physical agents' level in women with primary dysmenorrhea: A cross-sectional observational study

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD), menstrual pain in the absence of pathology, is the main reason for gynecological consultation in young women. Physical agents, used in physiotherapy for therapeutic purposes, can be self-used by women with primary dysmenorrhea. The objective of this study is to determine the best-known and most used physical agents. The study also investigates pain intensity, perceived pain, and the areas of most frequent painful.

An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample was a cohort of adult female population of students or university researchers from the University of A Coruña (Spain) with primary dysmenorrhea. Data collection instrument was an online self-administered questionnaire. Main variables were pain intensity, description and location (Numeric Rating Scale and McGill Pain Questionnaire, short version), and physical agents used (self-reported). Kendall's coefficient of concordance, Spearman's correlation coefficient, the χ²-test, the Mann-Whitney U-test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis.

Among 736 respondents, 216 were considered PD cases. Heat, postures, and massage are the most well-known physical agents (99.07%, 214 women; 85.6%, 185 women; 79.2%, 171 women, respectively). They are also the most used (heat, 92.1%, 199 women; postures, 81.9%, 177 women; 50 massage, 75.5%, 163 women). The abdomen, rachis, and lumbopelvic area were the most common pain perception locations (99%, 214 women).

Heat, postures, and massage were the most used, most recommended, and most effective physical agents. Physical exercise was the least known but the fourth most effective and the sixth most widely used physical agent.

This research provides relevant information from which to develop future intervention strategies. Knowing the most painful areas is also relevant to identify anatomical locations that can be the object of therapeutic attention.