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Pilates and yoga alleviate menstrual pain and improve sleep, quality of life, and school attendance in teenage girls suffering from primary dysmenorrhea.
A new experimental study published in the "Indian Journal of Community Medicine" highlights the potential of Pilates and yoga as valuable non-pharmacological interventions for mitigating primary dysmenorrhea among school-going adolescents.
Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent in female students and is a key contributor to menstrual pain, poor sleep, reduced quality of life, and school absenteeism. Hence, this study examined the effects of Pilates (a form of physical activity that focuses on controlled breathing, proper posture, muscle regulation, flexibility enhancement, and strength development) and yoga (mind–body practice that boosts overall mental and physical wellness) on absenteeism among 28 female students battling primary dysmenorrhea.
Volunteers (aged 14–17 years) selected through purposive sampling were randomly assigned to three groups: Pilates (n = 10), Yoga (n = 9), and a control group (n = 9). Outcomes were assessed using standardized tools, including the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain intensity, pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) for sleep quality, euroQol 5-dimension 5-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) for quality of life, and a structured absenteeism questionnaire. Measurements were examined at baseline and post-intervention, with follow-up over 3 months.
Results portrayed remarkable improvements (P < 0.001) in pain intensity, quality of life, sleep quality, and absenteeism across all three groups. However, those in the Pilates and yoga groups showed sustained and more pronounced benefits over the 3-month period, including marked reductions in menstrual pain and school absenteeism, along with notable improvements in overall quality of life and sleep quality compared with controls.
The findings suggest that Pilates and yoga are effective, low-cost, and accessible strategies for alleviating symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent females. Incorporating these practices into school or community-based health programs may aid in minimizing menstrual-related disruptions and improving wellbeing.
Indian Journal of Community Medicine
Effects of Pilates and Yoga on Pain Intensity, Absenteeism, Quality of Life, and Sleep Quality among Primary Dysmenorrhea School Students
Insiya Juzer et al.
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