Association Between Menstrual Pain Severity and Plantar Pressure in Young Women

November 9, 2026 updated by: Al Hayah University In Cairo

Association Between Primary Dysmenorrhea Severity and Plantar Pressure Distribution in Post-Pubertal Females

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common condition characterized by recurrent menstrual pain in the absence of identifiable pelvic pathology. Menstrual pain may be accompanied by changes in posture, neuromuscular function, and postural control. These changes may influence how body weight is distributed across the feet during standing.

The purpose of this observational study is to investigate the association between primary dysmenorrhea severity and plantar pressure distribution in post-pubertal females.

The study will include 79 female university students aged 18-23 years with a history of primary dysmenorrhea. Participants will be recruited from the first through fourth academic years of the Faculty of Physical Therapy at Al Hayat University in Cairo, Egypt.

Each participant will undergo a single assessment during the menstrual phase, specifically within the first three days of menstruation.

Primary dysmenorrhea severity will be assessed using the Working Ability, Location, Intensity, Days of Pain, Dysmenorrhea (WaLIDD) scale. The scale produces a total score ranging from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater severity.

Plantar pressure distribution will be assessed using the DIERS pedoscan system during standardized barefoot quiet standing. The assessment will include plantar pressure distribution and anterior-posterior and right-left weight distribution.

A minimum of two valid 30-second standing measurements will be obtained and averaged for analysis.

The study will examine whether greater primary dysmenorrhea severity is associated with measurable differences in plantar pressure distribution and weight-bearing characteristics.

No therapeutic intervention, randomization, or experimental treatment allocation will be performed.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
79

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • New Cairo, Egypt
        • Recruiting
        • Alhayah University in Cairo

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 23 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of female undergraduate physical therapy students aged 18-23 years attending the first through fourth academic years at Al Hayat University in Cairo, Egypt. Eligible participants will have primary dysmenorrhea, regular menstrual cycles, and the ability to complete a standardized standing plantar pressure assessment. A total of 79 participants is planned. Each participant will be assessed during menstrual Days 1-3.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Post-pubertal females aged 18-23 years.
  • Regular menstrual cycles ranging from 21 to 35 days.
  • History consistent with primary dysmenorrhea for at least the previous six consecutive months.
  • Ability to stand independently without assistive devices for the duration of the pedobarographic assessment.
  • Provision of written informed consent before participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or uterine fibroids, confirmed clinically or through imaging.
  • Current or recent pregnancy.
  • Neurological disorders affecting balance or sensorimotor function.
  • Musculoskeletal injury or condition involving the lower limbs, feet, or lumbar spine within the preceding six months.
  • Foot deformity or structural lower-limb abnormality known to alter plantar pressure distribution.
  • Current use of medications known to influence postural control, including centrally acting analgesics, benzodiazepines, or antiepileptics.
  • History of major lower-limb or foot surgery.
  • Systemic disease affecting sensory or motor function, including diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: CASE_ONLY
  • Time Perspectives: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Post-Pubertal Females With Primary Dysmenorrhea

A single group of 79 post-pubertal females aged 18-23 years with primary dysmenorrhea will be recruited from undergraduate physical therapy students at Al Hayat University in Cairo. Participants will have regular menstrual cycles, a history of primary dysmenorrhea for at least six consecutive months, and the ability to stand independently for pedobarographic assessment. Dysmenorrhea severity and plantar pressure parameters will be assessed at a single visit during menstrual Days 1-3.
Other: primary Dysmenorrhea Severity

The exposure of interest is the severity of primary dysmenorrhea, quantified using the self-reported WaLIDD scale. The instrument evaluates working ability, pain location, pain intensity, and duration of pain. Each domain contributes 0-3 points to a total score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher scores indicate greater severity. Dysmenorrhea severity will be examined for its association with objectively measured plantar pressure distribution and weight-bearing characteristics during standing. This is an observed characteristic and not an investigator-assigned intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Static Plantar Pressure Distribution
Time Frame: Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3; at least two 30-second standing recordings.

Plantar pressure distribution will be assessed using the DIERS pedoscan computerized pedobarographic platform during standardized barefoot quiet standing. Participants will stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms relaxed at their sides, and eyes directed forward. At least two valid 30-second recordings will be obtained and averaged. The recorded plantar loading distribution will be analyzed in relation to primary dysmenorrhea severity. The precise regional pressure outputs and measurement units must be defined from the study's DIERS reporting protocol before submission.
Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3; at least two 30-second standing recordings.
Primary Dysmenorrhea Severity Assessed by WaLIDD Score
Time Frame: Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3.

Primary dysmenorrhea severity will be quantified using the Working Ability, Location, Intensity, Days of Pain, Dysmenorrhea (WaLIDD) scale. The instrument contains four domains, each scored from 0 to 3, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher scores represent greater symptom severity. Scores are categorized as absent (0), mild (1-4), moderate (5-7), or severe (8-12). The total score will be used as the principal severity variable in the correlational analysis.
Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Anterior-Posterior Weight Distribution (%)
Time Frame: Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3; at least two 30-second standing recordings.

Anterior-posterior weight distribution will be measured using the DIERS pedoscan system during standardized barefoot quiet standing. The instrument will quantify the distribution of body weight between the anterior and posterior plantar regions, expressed as percentages. At least two valid 30-second recordings will be obtained and averaged for analysis.
Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3; at least two 30-second standing recordings.
Right-Left Weight Distribution (%)
Time Frame: Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3; at least two 30-second standing recordings.

Right-left weight distribution will be assessed using the DIERS pedoscan computerized pressure platform. The measurement will quantify the percentage of body weight distributed between the right and left lower limbs during standardized barefoot quiet standing. At least two valid 30-second recordings will be obtained and averaged for analysis.
Single assessment during menstrual Days 1-3; at least two 30-second standing recordings.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Al Hayah University In Cairo

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 18, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • AOMS-PD-PPD-2026-001 Copy

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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