EFFECT OF VIBRATION AND HEAT COMBINATION ON PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA

Background: Primary dysmenorrhoea is a common, idiopathic, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, with unknown aetiology which about 50% of women with regular menstrual period suffer. This study was designed to determine the effect of vibration and heat on primary dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 75 female students aged 18-22 years old were evaluated for two menstrual cycles. At the first cycle the participants received the routine pain-relief method (synthetic or herbal medicine and traditional remedies). At the second cycle for each participant combined vibration-heat device was applied for ten minutes during menstrual pain. The average of perceived leg pain, lumbar pain and abdominal pain scores at two cycles were determined. The data were analyzed based on Wilcoxon and T tests by using SPSS (v 16.0) for Windows. Results: The average of all perceived pain scores at two cycles were significantly different before pain relief and after both routine methods and using the device (p 0.001). Those were more significantly reduced after using the device in comparison of using routine methods (p 0.001). Conclusion: Since vibration-heat is an effective pain relief method, it can be used as a complementary alternative medicine in primary dysmenorrhea reduction.