Tele-Pilates for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Tele-Pilates for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Pain, Symptoms, and Trunk Endurance

This randomized controlled trial investigates the effectiveness of a synchronized tele-Pilates program on menstrual pain, symptom severity, physical disability, and trunk muscle endurance in women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD). The intervention includes 16 supervised online Pilates sessions delivered over eight weeks.

Primary dysmenorrhea is a prevalent gynecological condition characterized by painful menstruation. Exercise, particularly core stabilization and mind-body methods like Pilates, may improve both physical and psychological symptoms associated with PD. In this single-center RCT, 34 women aged 18-35 with PD were randomized to either a Tele-Pilates group or a control group. The Pilates group received supervised online sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks. Outcomes included pain severity (VAS), symptom burden (MSQ), functional impairment (FEMD), disability (Oswestry LBP Index), and trunk muscle endurance (McGill tests). Findings demonstrated significant improvements in the Pilates group across all domains.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women aged 18-35 years
• Regular menstrual cycles (28±7 days)
• VAS ≥5 for menstrual pain
• Diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea

Exclusion Criteria:

• Secondary dysmenorrhea (e.g., endometriosis, fibroids)
• Pregnancy or use of intrauterine devices
• Significant comorbidities (e.g., spondylolisthesis)