The Effect of 8 week Aerobic Exercise and Yoga on Primary Dismenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea، menstrual cramps without physical pain is a common complaint in gynecology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training on primary Dysmenorrhea in a period of 8 weeks. In the present clinical-trial study، 60 non-athlete girls with primary Dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into three groups: aerobic training، yoga and control groups. Based on the visual analog scale of pain intensity، pain duration and amount of analgesics administered was assessed before and after the period of primary Dysmenorrhea using a questionnaire. In this eight-week exercise program، the aerobic exercises group for 60 minutes in three weeks and yoga exercises group in three sessions per week for 60 minutes، the yoga breathing techniques، exercises، asana and relaxation techniques were performed. There was no intervention in the control group. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon، Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney (p<=0/05). Both aerobic exercise and yoga significantly reduced pain intensity، duration of pain and reduction of drug compared to the control group (p=0/010). No significant differences between aerobic and yoga with the pain and duration of pain was found (p>0. 05). There was a significant decrease in the analgesic consumption in the yoga group compared to the exercise group (p<0/05). Both aerobic and yoga are effective in the treatment of primary Dysmenorrhea، but yoga has a greater reduction property on drug dosage.