Resistive Exercise and Stretching in Women With Dysmenorrhea

The resisted exercise training program targeted trunk, upper, and lower body segments with 10-12 repetitions at 30-65% intensity, lasting 50-60 minutes per session, 3 times weekly for 8 weeks. Participants determined their maximal repetition through trial training. Maximal power was assessed using concentric 1-maximal repetition (MT). Following a 2-3 minute rest and a 5-minute warm-up (walking), participants performed the 1-MT test to establish their heaviest lift with the correct technique, adjusting resistance levels accordingly. The circuit-style training spanned 9 stations with 2-3 sets per station, each circuit lasting 2-3 minutes with 90-second rests between sets. A 5-minute warm-up and cool-down (walking) preceded and followed each session. Exercises included bilateral elbow flexion, chest press, bilateral shoulder abduction, bilateral knee extension, back extension, sit-ups, knee flexion, hip abduction, and hip adduction.

The participants were made to perform stretching exercises, selected by reviewing the literature, under supervision 3 days a week for 8 weeks, and they were asked not to do any other exercises during this intervention period. They were asked to do exercises such as trunk flexion, pelvic elevation, squatting, trunk lateral flexion, lumbar extensor stretching, lower abdominal stretching, hip adduct stretching, piriformis stretching, and trunk flexor stretching (cobra pose). The holding time was 5 seconds, the rest time was 1 second, and the exercises were applied in 10 repetitions.