Effects of stretching and relaxation exercises with pain neuroscience education on emotional status, pain beliefs and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pain neuroscience education (PNE) and exercise training (ET) on emotional status, pain beliefs, and quality of life (QoL) in primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods: In the study, individuals with PD diagnosis (n=19) were given ET (stretching and relaxation exercises) together with PNE during two menstrual cycles. Individuals were assessed at the baseline of the study, at the end of the interventions, and at 1-month follow-up after the interventions. As outcome measures, emotional status, pain beliefs and quality of life were assessed with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Form, respectively. Within-group comparisons were performed using Friedman test and post-hoc Conover test. Results: After the intervention, it was determined that depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress levels and organic pain belief levels decreased and there was a significant improvement in the physical, social and environmental areas of QoL (p<0.05). However, it was observed that there was no change in the level of psychological pain beliefs and the psychological domain of QoL over time (p>0.05). In the 1st month follow-up, it was found that the improvements obtained in emotional symptoms, organic pain beliefs and the environmental domain of QoL were maintained (p>0.05). Conclusion: It is seen that stretching and relaxation exercises together with PNE in PD improve emotional symptoms, pain beliefs and various areas of QoL. Randomized controlled studies that combine different PNE and exercise approaches and reveal long-term effects are needed.

Keywords

• Chronic pain
• Clinical trial
• Exercise
• Dysmenorrhea

Primer dismenorede ağrı nörobilim eğitimi ile birlikte uygulanan germe ve gevşeme egzersizlerinin emosyonel durum, ağrı inançları ve yaşam kalitesi üzerine etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı primer dismenore (PD)’de ağrı nörobilim eğitimi (ANE) ile birlikte verilen egzersiz eğitimi (EE)’nin emosyonel durum, ağrı inançları ve yaşam kalitesi üzerine etkilerini araştırmaktı. Yöntem: Çalışmada PD tanısı olan bireylere (n=19) iki menstrual döngü süresince ANE ile birlikte EE (germe ve gevşeme egzersizleri) verildi. Bireyler çalışma başlangıcında, müdahalelerin bitimini takiben ve müdahaleler sonrası 1. ay takipte değerlendirildi. Sonuç ölçümleri olarak emosyonel durum Depresyon-Anksiyete ve Stres Ölçeği-21 ile, ağrı inançları Ağrı İnançları Ölçeği ile ve yaşam kalitesi Dünya Sağlık Örgütü Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği-Kısa Form ile değerlendirildi. Grup içi karşılaştırmalarda Friedman test ve post-hoc Conover testi kullanıldı. Bulgular: Bireylerde müdahale sonrasında depresif belirti, anksiyete ve stres düzeylerinin ve ağrıya ilişkin organik inanç düzeylerinin azaldığı ve yaşam kalitesinin fiziksel, sosyal ve çevresel alanlarında anlamlı iyileşme olduğu tespit edildi (p<0,05). Bununla birlikte ağrıya ilişkin psikolojik inanç düzeyinde ve yaşam kalitesinin psikolojik alanında zamanla değişim olmadığı görüldü (p>0,05). 1. ay takipte ise emosyonel semptomlarda, organik ağrı inanışında ve yaşam kalitesinin çevresel sağlık alanında elde edilen iyileşmelerin korunduğu bulundu (p>0,05). Sonuç: PD’de ANE ile birlikte germe ve gevşeme egzersizlerinin emosyonel semptomları, ağrı inançlarını ve yaşam kalitesinin çeşitli alanlarını iyileştirdiği görülmektedir. Farklı ANE ve egzersiz yaklaşımlarını kombine ederek uzun dönem etkileri ortaya koyan randomize kontrollü çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• Kronik ağrı
• Klinik çalışma
• Egzersiz
• Dismenore

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