DysmenorrheaNCT07628452
Comparative Effects of Aerobic Exercises and Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation Technique in Primary Dysmenorrhea
A study testing aerobic exercises and Jacobson's relaxation technique in people with Dysmenorrhea, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The study will focus on the comparative effects of aerobic exercises and Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 24 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Dysmenorrhea
- What is being tested?
- aerobic exercises and Jacobson's relaxation technique
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 58 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2025to 1 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 17 to 24 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Pain on numeric rating pain scale,
- Menarche range 12-16,
- BMI less than 30,
- Having a regular menstrual cycle (28-32) days,
- Normal bleeding days (3 to 1) and diagnosed with mild PD according to WaLiDD score
Who cannot join
- Athletes,
- married women with gynaecological abnormalities were excluded,
- Medical treatment during the study (e.g., oral contraceptives, antidepressants)
- Recent musculoskeletal trauma or surgery, or chronic musculoskeletal disorders
- affecting pain perception (e.g., fibromyalgia, pelvic floor dysfunction)
- secondary dysmenorrhea-related conditions (e.g., endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts),
- consumption of painkillers
- No mental or physical diseases, which reduce the abilities to exercise
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Superior college for women and Polytechnic institute
Okāra, Punjab Province, 52513
Aansa Manzoor, MSWHPT
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Aerobic Exercises and Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation Technique on Pain, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Primary Dysmenorrhea
The study will focus on the comparative effects of aerobic exercises and Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
This study will be a randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in, Superior college depalpur and Army public schools and college Lahore (APSACS). Non probability convenience sampling will be used to collect the data.64 participants will be selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria and will be equally divided into two groups by sealed opaque enveloped .Participants having age group between 17-24 years and diagnosed with WaLiDD score are included.
Read the detailed description
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) refers to menstrual pain without organic lesions in the pelvic cavity , which mainly manifests as spastic pain and distension above the symphysis pubis in the lower abdomen before and after or during menstruation, radiating to the lumbosacral region and inner thigh. PD is a common gynecological disorder affecting 50%-90% of women. The study will focus on the comparative effects of aerobic exercises and Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
This study will be a randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in, Superior college depalpur and Army public schools and college Lahore (APSACS). Non probability convenience sampling will be used to collect the data.64 participants will be selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria and will be equally divided into two groups by sealed opaque enveloped .Participants having age group between 17-24 years and diagnosed with WaLiDD score are included. Athletes and married women will be excluded. Outcome measures will be taken using Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) for pain, EQ-5D-5L questionnaire for quality of life, fatigue assessment scale for fatigue. Both Groups will receive same baseline treatment which is core muscle strength. Group A will receive aerobic exercises and Group B will receive Jacobson\'s progressive relaxation technique for 3 times in a week. The treatment will be given for 8 weeks. Outcome measures will be measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Data analysis will be done by SPSS version 25.
- Conditions
- Dysmenorrhea
- Being tested
- aerobic exercises, Jacobson's relaxation technique
- Keywords
- aerobic exercise, quality of life,, dysmenorrhea,, female,, Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique
- Medical subject headings
- Dysmenorrhea
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
aerobic exercisesOther
Group A Duration of forty five minutes Warm up exercises for 10 minutes. Free active movement of upper limb, lower limb, and upper body, cross toe to touch dynamic stretches such as lunges, Achilles tendon and hamstrings stretching. The aerobic workout duration will be 25mins.. The aerobic exercise involved the following steps with15reps of each exercise and while changing the step slow marching step for 15second and then move towards the next step.
single step touch, double step touch, step touch front and back ,grapevine, knee lift , lunge side and back, L step ,V step, jumping jacks. Cool down exercises for 10 minutes included slow marching, quadriceps and hamstring and stretching. Subjects were prohibited from aerobics during menstruation and data were recorded for two menstrual cycles.
Jacobson's relaxation techniqueOther
Also called Aerobic exercises and hypopressive
Group B Jacobson's relaxation technique is a type of therapy that focuses on tightening and relaxing specific muscle groups in a sequence that makes you feel calmer and makes you aware of your body and physical sensations. It is also known as PMRT. (39) JPRT was applied three times a week from the estimated date of ovulation to the onset of the next menstruation. . The participants were in a supine position and were supported with cushions. The JPRT involves participants actively contracting muscles to create tension and then progressively releasing them. First of all, the participants were asked to contract the muscles tightly and hold for slow count of 5seconds (s) and then relax them completely for 10 s. At the same time, the participants practiced diaphragmatic breathing. The participants repeatedly performed JPMRT for each body part. Each session lasted about 20-30 min.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| aerobic exercises | Active comparator | Group A will receive aerobic exercises for 3 times in a week. Receives: Other: aerobic exercises |
| Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique | Experimental | Group B will receive Jacobson\'s progressive relaxation technique for 3 times in a week. Receives: Other: Jacobson's relaxation technique |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
WaLlDD relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
At baseline, the participant scored at the initial level on the WaLliDD scale, indicating their starting status. Over time, changes in the score reflect improvement or decline in the measured outcome. An increase in score suggests positive progress in the targeted domain, while a decrease indicates reduced functioning or worsening condition compared to baseline.
Measured: 2 months
Fatigue Assessment Scale
At baseline, the participant's fatigue level is measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale, providing a starting score of perceived fatigue. Changes in the score over time indicate variation in fatigue severity. A decrease from baseline reflects improvement (reduced fatigue), while an increase indicates worsening fatigue compared to the initial assessment.
Measured: 2 months
EQ-5D-5-L-Questionnaire
The EQ-5D-5L is a standardized questionnaire used to assess health-related quality of life. It measures five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, each rated on five levels of severity. It also includes a visual analog scale (VAS) where individuals rate their overall health. Higher scores indicate better perceived health status.
Measured: 2 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2025
- Primary completion1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for DysmenorrheaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 58 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Hafiza Iqra Rubab, MSWHPT, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07628452
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/25/0514
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Gittens A, Griffiths-Bandoo S, Eccleston A, Irving SW, Dawkins JJJMCNS. How Does Primary Dysmenorrhea Impact the Quality of Life of Young Women Ages (18-35) in a Selected Community in St. James, Jamaica. 2025;3(2):1-4.
Wu X, Yuan J, Ni J, Ma X, Zhang Z, Hua Y, et al. Electroacupuncture with different waveforms for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial. 2024;11(3):357-62.
Esan DT, Ariyo SA, Akinlolu EF, Akingbade O, Olabisi OI, Olawade DB, et al. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its effect on the quality of life of female undergraduate students in Nigeria. 2024;5:100059.
Dar M, Khan A, Shah SS, Aleem A, Jaber AAS, Hussain M, Khan GM. Evaluation of health-related quality of life of female students suffering from primary dysmenorrhea: findings of a cross-sectional study from Pakistan. Front Public Health. 2025 Apr 24;13:1467377. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1467377. eCollection 2025.
PubMed 40342508Raule EB, Sapulete IM, Engka JNAJJII. Relationship Between Premenstrual Syndrome (Pms) And Appetite In Female Medical Students At Sam Ratulangi University. 2025;4(1):1071-9.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Aerobic Exercises and Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation Technique on Pain, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Primary Dysmenorrhea
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07628452
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/25/0514
- Conditions
- Dysmenorrhea
- Keywords
- aerobic exercise, quality of life,, dysmenorrhea,, female,, Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 58 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study will focus on the comparative effects of aerobic exercises and Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
This study will be a randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in, Superior college depalpur and Army public schools and college Lahore (APSACS). Non probability convenience sampling will be used to collect the data.64 participants will be selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria and will be equally divided into two groups by sealed opaque enveloped .Participants having age group between 17-24 years and diagnosed with WaLiDD score are included.
Detailed description
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) refers to menstrual pain without organic lesions in the pelvic cavity , which mainly manifests as spastic pain and distension above the symphysis pubis in the lower abdomen before and after or during menstruation, radiating to the lumbosacral region and inner thigh. PD is a common gynecological disorder affecting 50%-90% of women. The study will focus on the comparative effects of aerobic exercises and Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
This study will be a randomized clinical trial and will be conducted in, Superior college depalpur and Army public schools and college Lahore (APSACS). Non probability convenience sampling will be used to collect the data.64 participants will be selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria and will be equally divided into two groups by sealed opaque enveloped .Participants having age group between 17-24 years and diagnosed with WaLiDD score are included. Athletes and married women will be excluded. Outcome measures will be taken using Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) for pain, EQ-5D-5L questionnaire for quality of life, fatigue assessment scale for fatigue. Both Groups will receive same baseline treatment which is core muscle strength. Group A will receive aerobic exercises and Group B will receive Jacobson\'s progressive relaxation technique for 3 times in a week. The treatment will be given for 8 weeks. Outcome measures will be measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Data analysis will be done by SPSS version 25.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| aerobic exercises | Active comparator | Other: aerobic exercisesGroup A will receive aerobic exercises for 3 times in a week. |
| Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique | Experimental | Other: Jacobson's relaxation techniqueGroup B will receive Jacobson\'s progressive relaxation technique for 3 times in a week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 24 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Pain on numeric rating pain scale,
- Menarche range 12-16,
- BMI less than 30,
- Having a regular menstrual cycle (28-32) days,
- Normal bleeding days (3 to 1) and diagnosed with mild PD according to WaLiDD score
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Athletes,
- married women with gynaecological abnormalities were excluded,
- Medical treatment during the study (e.g., oral contraceptives, antidepressants)
- Recent musculoskeletal trauma or surgery, or chronic musculoskeletal disorders
- affecting pain perception (e.g., fibromyalgia, pelvic floor dysfunction)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| aerobic exercisesGroup A Duration of forty five minutes Warm up exercises for 10 minutes. Free active movement of upper limb, lower limb, and upper body, cross toe to touch dynamic stretches such as lunges, Achilles tendon and hamstrings stretching. The aerobic workout duration will be 25mins.. The aerobic exercise involved the following steps with15reps of each exercise and while changing the step slow marching step for 15second and then move towards the next step. single step touch, double step touch, step touch front and back ,grapevine, knee lift , lunge side and back, L step ,V step, jumping jacks. Cool down exercises for 10 minutes included slow marching, quadriceps and hamstring and stretching. Subjects were prohibited from aerobics during menstruation and data were recorded for two menstrual cycles. | Other | aerobic exercises |
| Jacobson's relaxation techniqueAlso: Aerobic exercises and hypopressiveGroup B Jacobson's relaxation technique is a type of therapy that focuses on tightening and relaxing specific muscle groups in a sequence that makes you feel calmer and makes you aware of your body and physical sensations. It is also known as PMRT. (39) JPRT was applied three times a week from the estimated date of ovulation to the onset of the next menstruation. . The participants were in a supine position and were supported with cushions. The JPRT involves participants actively contracting muscles to create tension and then progressively releasing them. First of all, the participants were asked to contract the muscles tightly and hold for slow count of 5seconds (s) and then relax them completely for 10 s. At the same time, the participants practiced diaphragmatic breathing. The participants repeatedly performed JPMRT for each body part. Each session lasted about 20-30 min. | Other | Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique |
Primary outcome
WaLlDD relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea.
Time frame: 2 months
At baseline, the participant scored at the initial level on the WaLliDD scale, indicating their starting status. Over time, changes in the score reflect improvement or decline in the measured outcome. An increase in score suggests positive progress in the targeted domain, while a decrease indicates reduced functioning or worsening condition compared to baseline.
Fatigue Assessment Scale
Time frame: 2 months
At baseline, the participant's fatigue level is measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale, providing a starting score of perceived fatigue. Changes in the score over time indicate variation in fatigue severity. A decrease from baseline reflects improvement (reduced fatigue), while an increase indicates worsening fatigue compared to the initial assessment.
EQ-5D-5-L-Questionnaire
Time frame: 2 months
The EQ-5D-5L is a standardized questionnaire used to assess health-related quality of life. It measures five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, each rated on five levels of severity. It also includes a visual analog scale (VAS) where individuals rate their overall health. Higher scores indicate better perceived health status.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
- BackgroundGittens A, Griffiths-Bandoo S, Eccleston A, Irving SW, Dawkins JJJMCNS. How Does Primary Dysmenorrhea Impact the Quality of Life of Young Women Ages (18-35) in a Selected Community in St. James, Jamaica. 2025;3(2):1-4.
- BackgroundWu X, Yuan J, Ni J, Ma X, Zhang Z, Hua Y, et al. Electroacupuncture with different waveforms for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial. 2024;11(3):357-62.
- BackgroundEsan DT, Ariyo SA, Akinlolu EF, Akingbade O, Olabisi OI, Olawade DB, et al. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its effect on the quality of life of female undergraduate students in Nigeria. 2024;5:100059.
- Background: PubMed 40342508Dar M, Khan A, Shah SS, Aleem A, Jaber AAS, Hussain M, Khan GM. Evaluation of health-related quality of life of female students suffering from primary dysmenorrhea: findings of a cross-sectional study from Pakistan. Front Public Health. 2025 Apr 24;13:1467377. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1467377. eCollection 2025.
- BackgroundRaule EB, Sapulete IM, Engka JNAJJII. Relationship Between Premenstrual Syndrome (Pms) And Appetite In Female Medical Students At Sam Ratulangi University. 2025;4(1):1071-9.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Hafiza Iqra Rubab, MSWHPT principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing aerobic exercises and Jacobson's relaxation technique in people with Dysmenorrhea, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Imran Amjad, PhD (03324390125, imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
WaLlDD relaxation technique on pain, fatigue and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhea. (time frame: 2 months). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07628452, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026.