NCT07196150 Exercise, Motor Imagery, and Pain Neuroscience Education for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Trial

Eligibility & Interventions

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This trial targets 51 participants in total. It began in 2025-02-25 with a primary completion date of 2026-06.

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether exercise, motor imagery training, and pain neuroscience education can help reduce menstrual pain and improve well-being in young women with primary dysmenorrhea. The study will also look at how these approaches affect menstrual symptoms, movement control, and cognitive flexibility. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does adding motor imagery or pain neuroscience education to an exercise program reduce pain and menstrual symptoms more than exercise alone? * Do these approaches improve movement control, thinking flexibility, and knowledge about pain? Researchers will compare three groups: * Exercise only * Exercise plus motor imagery training * Exercise plus pain neuroscience education Participants will: * Attend supervised exercise sessions twice a week for 8 weeks * Practice either motor imagery or receive short pain neuroscience education, depending on their group * Complete questionnaires and tests before and after the program, during the first three days of menstruation

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Female, aged 18-25 years * Gynecological examination and ultrasound confirming absence of pelvic pathology * History of primary dysmenorrhea for at least 6 months, with pain intensity ≥4 on the Numeric Rating Scale (0-10) during the first 3 days of menstruation * Regular menstrual cycles (21-35 days) * Nulliparous (no history of pregnancy or childbirth) * No systemic, metabolic, rheumatologic, or lumbar pathology * Willingness to participate in the 8-week intervention program and attend follow-up assessments Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea (e.g., endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts) * Current pregnancy or planning to become pregnant during the study period * History of pelvic or abdominal surgery * History of sexually transmitted diseases * Current use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, or hormonal therapy (e.g., oral contraceptives, intrauterine device) * Known neurological, psychiatric, or systemic musculoskeletal disorders * Cognitive impairment or attention deficit that may interfere with participation * Participation in regular exercise in the last 6 months * Use of alternative therapies for dysmenorrhea (e.g., acupuncture, massage)

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