Correlation Between Spinopelvic Alignment and Uterine Dimensions in Primary Dysmenorrhea

June 20, 2024 updated by: Randa Gomaa, Cairo University
This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between spinopelvic alignment and uterine dimensions in primary dysmenorrhea.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common condition characterized by severe menstrual cramps and lower abdominal pain before or during menstruation, without any underlying pelvic pathology. It is highly prevalent among adolescents and young women, with 16% to 93% of adolescents and 70% to 90% of young women experiencing PD. The severe menstrual discomfort associated with PD often leads to absenteeism from school or work, with approximately one-third to half of individuals missing at least one day per menstrual cycle, and 5% to 14% experiencing more frequent absences.

While the exact etiology of PD is not fully understood, researchers have proposed a potential relationship between PD and musculoskeletal factors. One hypothesis suggests that abnormal pelvic and lumbar spine alignment, coupled with abdominal muscle spasms, may affect the positioning of the uterus, increasing the susceptibility to dysmenorrhea. Additionally, lumbar spine misalignment could potentially impact uterine blood supply through vasoconstriction, contributing to menstrual pain.

Spinal misalignment has been proposed as a possible underlying cause of PD, with some studies suggesting that manual therapy techniques may alleviate PD symptoms. Furthermore, a lack of coordination between the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding soft tissues has also been implicated as a potential causative factor. However, research investigating the relationship between PD and musculoskeletal factors remains limited, and further exploration of the biomechanical factors influencing the pelvic region is needed. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between spinopelvic alignment and uterine dimensions in primary dysmenorrhea.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

40

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

      • Giza, Egypt
        • Cairo University

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A sample of 40 girls was recruited from undergraduate students at Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University and actively participated in this research.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Virginal and non-smokers.
  • They should have regular menstrual cycles, verified through a three-month calendar record, with cycle durations averaging between 28 to 35 days.
  • The body mass index (BMI) varied between 18.5 to 25 kg/m2.
  • Additionally, girls in the study group should have moderate to severe PD (WaLIDD score ≥ 5).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pelvic or gynecological disorders.
  • Musculoskeletal disorders as low back pain.
  • Spinal deformities as kyphosis and scoliosis.
  • History of lower limb injuries.
  • Diabetes.
  • Cardiopulmonary diseases.
  • Any physical impairment.
  • They didn't use analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral contraceptives.

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Group of Primary Dysmenorrhea
Females with Primary Dysmenorrhea
Measurement of corpus length, corpus width, cervix length, and cervix width
Evaluation of thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, and pelvic torsion
Group Without Primary Dysmenorrhea
Females without Primary Dysmenorrhea
Measurement of corpus length, corpus width, cervix length, and cervix width
Evaluation of thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, and pelvic torsion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Kyphotic angle
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was measured by a 4D formetric device as the maximum degree of kyphotic curvature, specifically the angle formed between the upper inflection point adjacent to the vertebral prominence and the thoracic-lumbar inflection point.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
Lordotic angle
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was measured by a 4D formetric device as the maximum lordotic angle, calculated as the angle formed between the surface tangents at the thoracic-lumbar inflection point and the lower lumbar-sacral inflection point.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
Pelvic tilt
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was determined by a 4D formetric device as the vertical disparity in millimeters (mm) between the two lumbar dimples. A positive value signifies that the right dimple is positioned higher than the left, while a negative value indicates the reverse, all in relation to a horizontal reference line connecting both dimples within the measuring system.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
Pelvic torsion
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was measured by a 4D formetric device within the frontal plane, this measurement represents the degree of rotation of the right sacral dimple relative to the left sacral dimple.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
corpus length
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was measured by ultrasonography. The longitudinal axis of the uterine corpus was determined at a longitudinal plane where the internal cervical os and endometrium appeared at their tallest, measured from the projection point of the endometrium on the uterine corpus to the internal cervical os.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
corpus width
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was measured by ultrasonography. The transverse axis of the uterine corpus was assessed at the same plane, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal diameter of the uterine corpus where it exhibited its maximum width.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
cervix length
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was measured by ultrasonography. t was measured as the distance between the internal cervical os and the external os.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
cervix width
Time Frame: It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.
It was measured by ultrasonography. The measurement of the transverse diameter of the uterine cervix was conducted at its thickest section, oriented perpendicular to an imaginary line corresponding to the longitudinal measurement of the cervix.
It was measured during the 2nd or 3rd days of menstruation for each participant in both groups.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Amel M. Yousef, Prof., Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

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 (Actual)

March 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 28, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

February 28, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 14, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 14, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

June 20, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 21, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 20, 2024

Last Verified

June 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

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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