EFFECTIVENESS OF A NURSE-LED PELVIC ROCKING EXERCISE PROGRAMME ON PAIN SEVERITY AND MENSTRUAL DISTRESS AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS WITH PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA IN SELECTED SCHOOLS OF INDORE, MADHYA PRADESH

Abstract

Background

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common menstrual health problem among adolescent girls and is characterized by painful menstruation without identifiable pelvic pathology. In addition to lower abdominal pain, affected adolescents may experience fatigue, headache, nausea, backache, mood changes, reduced concentration, sleep disturbances, and limitations in daily and academic activities. Nurse-led non-pharmacological interventions such as pelvic rocking exercises may provide a simple, inexpensive, and feasible approach to menstrual symptom management in school settings.

Methods

A quantitative evaluative approach with a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design was adopted. The study included 40 adolescent girls with primary dysmenorrhea selected through purposive sampling from selected schools of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Pain severity was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while menstrual distress was assessed using a structured menstrual distress assessment scale. Participants received a standardized nurse-led pelvic rocking exercise programme. Pre-test and post-test outcomes were compared using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

In the illustrative dataset, the mean pain severity score decreased from 7.25 ± 1.17 at pre-test to 3.45 ± 1.28 at post-test. Mean menstrual distress decreased from 32.65 ± 6.48 to 19.40 ± 5.72. Both reductions were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Severe menstrual pain declined from 60.0% before the intervention to 7.5% after the intervention. A positive correlation was observed between baseline pain severity and menstrual distress.

Conclusion

The illustrative findings suggest that a nurse-led pelvic rocking exercise programme may be beneficial in reducing pain severity and menstrual distress among adolescent girls with primary dysmenorrhea. The intervention may be considered as a component of comprehensive school-based menstrual-health education, although controlled studies are required to establish causal effectiveness.