The Effectiveness of Relaxation Techniques on Primary Dysmenorrhea (Spasmodic and Congestive) in Medical Science Students of Tabriz University, 1379-1379.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Dysmenorrhea which is the most common gynecological disorder, usually seen shortly after the first ovulatory cycle following menarche and is not caused by any organic pathology. There are two distinct types of primary dysmenorrhea (Spasmodic and Congestive), which differ with each other in timing and in the nature of pain and other symptoms. Dysmenorrhea is a common complaint, which is associated with socioeconomic and personal problems. Since the majority of women are actively involved in different social fields, so if they are not undergone effective and proper treatment the consequences would be seen. At present the most common method of treatment is administration of analgesics, but no longer is the use of chemical agents considered the treatment of choice. Instead we must seek the new, practical and safe alternative treatments. One of the controversial methods of this kind is relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques reduce the neural mediators release and abate muscle tension. It may relieve the relevant pain through breaking the vicious circle of pain-tension. Methods & Materials: This evaluation is a semi experimental study, which is performed in order to assess the effects of relaxation techniques on primary dysmenorrhea (Spasmodic and Congestive). The means for collecting data were consisted of a certain questionnaire, interviewing and clinical examination of sufferers. Target community of our study was consisted of the female students of medical science university of Tabriz, which were resident in Fajr and Kosar dormitories and had menstrual pain. 88 subjects were selected from these two dormitories by simple randomized method. In the next step the subjects from Fajr as congestive control and spasmodic control groups. So they would not effect on each other. Progressive muscle relaxation exercises were trained was done by searcher during 5 sessions, and trainees were asked to do these exercises individually and routinely for two next successive menstrual cycles, But the control groups have not been received any training about relaxation. Collecting of data was performed again during two next successive menstrual cycles after the training. Finally 75 persons completed the study (35 spasmodic subjects, 16 person in experimental group and 19 persons in control group, 40 congestive subjects, 22 persons in experimental group and 18 persons in control group). In order to data analysis we used from deductive and descriptive statistics. Results: The results of this study demonstrated that dependent variables including SSS score, resting time and the amount of use of analgesics were reduced considerably by doing relaxation exercises in spasmodic experimental group in comparison with their pretreatment period and with the control group. Doing relaxation exercises in congestive experimental group resulted in reduction of SSS score, resting time and the amount of analgesic use in comparison with pretreatment period. In addition there is a significant reduction in SSS score in second post treatment period in comparison with control group. But resting time and the treatment and the amount of analgesic use were not reduced in post treatment period in comparison with control group. Discussion: Results of this study demonstrated that relaxation was a very effective method in treating the subjects with spasmodic dysmenorrhea. In relation to congestive dysmenorrhea although relaxation was an effective method in treating these subjects too, but this effectiveness was less than the improvement of symptoms which was obtained in spasmodic subjects. So it seems necessary to determine the type of primary dysmenorrhea (spasmodic and congestive), before employing such interventions.