Effectiveness of an Acupressure Band for Primary Dysmenorrhea in College Students

Effectiveness of an Acupressure Band for Primary Dysmenorrhea in College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an acupressure band in improving primary dysmenorrhea among college students. Primary dysmenorrhea is characterized by cramping lower abdominal pain during menstruation and is often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and headache. It is also one of the leading causes of academic and work absenteeism among women of reproductive age. Previous studies have shown that acupressure applied to the Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoint can alleviate menstrual pain. In addition, current clinical research has mainly focused on auricular acupressure using Vaccaria seeds, while relatively few studies have explored their application on body acupoints. Therefore, this study focuses on the application of Vaccaria seeds on the Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoint to evaluate their effects on primary dysmenorrhea.

To provide continuous and stable acupoint stimulation, this study utilizes an intervention device combining Vaccaria seeds with a compression band, together with acupressure stimulation.

This study adopts a single-blind randomized controlled trial design. A total of 30 participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group (compression band only group). The study consists of four menstrual cycles, including one baseline menstrual cycle followed by three consecutive menstrual cycles of home-based intervention.

Outcome measures include the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain intensity, the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MEDI-Q) for menstrual-related symptoms and distress, and heart rate variability (HRV), monitored using the ANS Watch as an indicator of autonomic nervous system activity. Statistical analyses will be conducted to compare differences between the experimental and control groups, as well as between pre- and post-intervention measurements, in order to evaluate the clinical potential of the acupressure band for primary dysmenorrhea management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female university students aged 20 to 24 years.
• Diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea and having a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score of 3 or higher.
• Regular menstrual cycles ranging from 21 to 35 days.
• Menstrual duration ranging from 4 to 10 days.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known history of secondary dysmenorrhea, including endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
• Chronic medical disease or psychiatric disease.
• Current smoking.
• Pregnancy.
• Long-term use of oral contraceptives or presence of an intrauterine device.
• Significant lower-extremity pitting edema, abnormal lower-extremity circulation, marked swelling, skin damage, infection, sensory abnormalities, or other conditions considered unsuitable for wearing the acupressure band by the research staff.