Motor Imagery Plus Therapeutic Exercise in Women With Menstrual Pain

Motor Imagery and Therapeutic Exercise on Sensorimotor Function in Women With Menstrual Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The researchers will conduct a study that combines motor imagery with therapeutic exercise in women experiencing menstrual pain. Previous research suggests that motor imagery, when used alongside physical exercise, may help improve motor control and alleviate pain, potentially enhancing outcomes for individuals dealing with chronic pain conditions. Through this study, the investigators aim to explore the effectiveness of these interventions in targeting key variables such as pain perception, motor coordination, and overall quality of life, building on existing evidence of motor imagery's benefits in pain management.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Motor Imagery Training
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Motor Imagery Plus Therapeutic Exercise; Behavioral: Therapeutic Exercise; Behavioral: Minimal intervention

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Valènica
    • Valencia, Valènica, Spain, 46010
      • University of Valencia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women who have experienced menstrual pain for more than 6 months.
• Pain intensity rated higher than 3/10 on a pain scale.
• Participants do not take pain-relief medication during the study period.
• Ages between 18 and 35 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current use of hormonal contraceptives or other treatments that affect menstrual cycles.
• Any chronic pain condition unrelated to menstrual pain (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain).
• Diagnosed gynecological conditions such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Current use of psychoactive medications that could affect pain perception.
• Any significant psychiatric condition that could interfere with study participation.
• History of recent pelvic surgery (within the last 6 months).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Therapeutic Exercise	Behavioral: Therapeutic Exercise; This group will perform a lumbo-pelvic motor control exercise program for three consecutive days.
Experimental: Motor Imagery Plus Therapeutic Exercise	Behavioral: Motor Imagery Plus Therapeutic Exercise; This group will perform three days of lumbo-pelvic motor control exercise intervention along with a motor imagery intervention program during active breaks between exercises.
Sham Comparator: Minimal Intervention	Behavioral: Minimal intervention; This group will carry out a therapeutic counseling and minimal education intervention during a one-day intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Intensity	The main variable is the intensity of menstrual pain, which will be evaluated before, during and after the intervention using a verbal numerical scale (0-10), where 0 is no pain and 10 is maximum pain.	Menstrual pain intensity will be assessed pre-intervention (T0), mid-intervention (T1-day 1, T2-day 2) and Post-intervention (T3-day 3).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lumbopelvic Motor Control	Lumbopelvic motor control will be assessed by a visual feedback system starting from a pressure of 40 mmHg.	Lumbopelvic motor control will be assessed pre-intervention (T0), mid-intervention (T1-day 1, T2-day 2) and Post-intervention (T3-day 3).
Pain Sensitivity	Pain sensitivity will be assessed with an algometer using pressure pain thresholds (in various areas, such as the abdomen, lumbar and thiabial region), as well as through conditioned pain modulation.	Pain sensitivity will be assessed pre-intervention (T0), mid-intervention (T1-day 1, T2-day 2) and Post-intervention (T3-day 3).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Valencia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 9, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 2, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 2, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): November 5, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Motor Imagery; Menstrual Pain; Therapeutic Exercise
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathologic Processes; Pelvic Pain; Menstruation Disturbances; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Dysmenorrhea; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Patient Care; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Exercise Therapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: UV0004

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No