Comparison Between Pilates Exercises and Aerobic Exercises in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Comparison between Pilates exercises and aerobic exercises in primary dysmenorrhea

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Primary Dysmenorrhea
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Pilates exercises; Behavioral: Aerobic exercises

Detailed Description

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition among young women and is characterized by painful menstrual cramps that may interfere with daily activities and quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions, particularly therapeutic exercises, have been recommended as safe and effective approaches for managing menstrual pain. Among these interventions, Pilates exercises and aerobic exercises are widely used; however, comparative evidence regarding their relative effectiveness remains limited.

This study is designed as a comparative interventional trial to evaluate and compare the effects of Pilates exercises versus aerobic exercises on pain severity and quality of life in females with primary dysmenorrhea. Eligible participants will be allocated into two intervention groups.

Participants in Group A will undergo a structured Pilates exercise program conducted three sessions per week for eight weeks. Each session will include controlled movements focusing on core stability, flexibility, breathing control, and muscle strengthening, with a total session duration of approximately 30 minutes.

Participants in Group B will receive a supervised aerobic exercise program performed three sessions per week for eight weeks. The aerobic sessions will consist of rhythmic and continuous movements designed to improve cardiovascular endurance, with each session lasting approximately 40 minutes.

Both interventions will be delivered under standardized conditions, and participants will be instructed to maintain their usual daily activities throughout the study period. Assessments will be conducted before the start of the intervention and after completion of the eight-week exercise program to evaluate changes in menstrual pain severity and quality of life.

The findings of this study aim to provide evidence regarding the comparative effectiveness of Pilates and aerobic exercises in the management of primary dysmenorrhea and to support the selection of appropriate exercise-based interventions for improving pain and quality of life in affected women.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Al Mansurah, Egypt
    • Delta university, Faculty of Physical Therapy

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Females diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea
• Age between 18 and 25 years
• Regular menstrual cycle (28-35 days)
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m²

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of any acute or chronic pelvic pathology
• History of regular exercise participation (≥3 days per week, average 30-45 minutes per day)
• Participation in structured physical activities such as swimming, running, or fitness center training
• Inability to perform exercise
• Unwillingness to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pilates exercises; Patients will receive Pilates exercise, the exercise program was repeated 3 times 8 weeks 30 minute for each leg in session. Focused on core strengthening, flexibility, and breathing exercises to alleviate menstrual pain."	Behavioral: Pilates exercises; Patients will receive Pilates exercise, the exercise program was repeated 3 times 8 weeks 30 minute for each leg in session. focuses on core strengthening, flexibility, and breathing techniques designed to reduce menstrual pain and improve overall physical well-being.
Active Comparator: Aerobic exercises; Patients will receive aerobic exercise, the exercise program was repeated 3 times 8 weeks 40minute for each session. Including walk-ing and treadmill	Behavioral: Aerobic exercises; Patients will receive aerobic exercise, the exercise program was repeated 3 times 8 weeks 40minute for each session. Including walk-ing and treadmill

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
menstrual pain severity	Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) atbaseline and after 8 weeks of Pilates or aerobic exercises.low score zero pain and high score 10 worst pain imaginable	8 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change quality of life	Short form health survey (SF-12) It was used for assessment of quality of life for aerobic and Pilates before and after treatment. higher scores indicating better health, typically on a 0-100 scale where 50 is the average (standardized). A high score (above 50) means better-than-average health, while a low score (below 50) suggests below-average health.	8weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System (VMSS)	Assessment include the need for analgesics, systemic symptoms, and ability to work , typically scoring from 0 (no pain) to 3 (severe pain)	8weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Rana Salem Abdelghany Ali

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 12, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 29, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pilates exercises; Aerobic exercises
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Exercise Movement Techniques
• Other Study ID Numbers: KFSIRB200-608

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: The study involves a small number of participants, and there is no plan to share individual participant data to ensure privacy and confidentiality.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No