Effect of a Magnesium Sulfate Footbath on Primary Dysmenorrhea Pain

Effect of a Warm-Water Footbath Containing Magnesium Sulfate on Pain in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common condition characterized by painful menstruation. This three-arm randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of a warm-water footbath containing magnesium sulfate on primary dysmenorrhea pain. A total of 120 women were randomized to a magnesium sulfate warm-water footbath group, a warm-water footbath group, or a no-intervention control group. Pain was assessed using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and a Visual Analogue Scale at baseline, 20 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Primary Dysmenorrhea
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Magnesium Sulfate Warm-Water Footbath; Other: Warm-Water Footbath

Detailed Description

Primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that occurs without an identifiable pelvic disorder. It is common among young women and may negatively affect daily activities and quality of life. Nonpharmacological interventions that are simple, inexpensive, and suitable for home use may support pain management.

This study was designed as a three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 120 women with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three groups. Participants in the magnesium sulfate group immersed their feet in 10 liters of warm water containing 200 g of magnesium sulfate. Participants in the warm-water group received the same footbath without magnesium sulfate. Participants in the control group received no intervention. The footbath was applied for 20 minutes. The water temperature was maintained between 34°C and 37°C. The feet were immersed to approximately 10-15 cm above the ankles. The intervention was performed at the participants' homes and supervised by researchers through a video call.Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. The Visual Analogue Scale was measured at baseline, 20 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours. Present Pain Intensity and the sensory, affective, and total Pain Rating Index scores were assessed at 20 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours. Participants were asked not to use analgesics, heat therapy, or another pain-relief method during the two-hour follow-up period.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Kocaeli, Turkey (Türkiye), 41380
    • Kocaeli University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women aged 18-35 years
• Having regular menstrual cycles
• Experiencing primary dysmenorrhea
• Having a menstrual pain score of at least 3 on the Visual Analogue Scale
• Engaging in physical activity no more than twice per week
• Having a body mass index of 29.9 kg/m² or lower
• Willing to participate and providing informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous childbirth
• Presence of varicose veins, open wounds, or skin lesions on the feet or lower legs
• Presence of an acute or chronic foot condition
• Medical advice against warm-water footbath use
• Use of hormonal contraceptives
• Frequent use of anti-inflammatory or analgesic medications

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
Experimental: Magnesium Sulfate Warm-Water Footbath; Participants immersed their feet in 10 L of warm water containing 200 g of magnesium sulfate for 20 minutes. The water temperature was maintained between 34°C and 37°C. The feet were immersed to approximately 10-15 cm above the ankles. The intervention was performed at home and supervised by the researchers through a video call.	Other: Magnesium Sulfate Warm-Water Footbath; A 20-minute footbath using 10 L of warm water containing 200 g of magnesium sulfate. The water temperature was maintained between 34°C and 37°C, and the feet were immersed to approximately 10-15 cm above the ankles. The intervention was administered during the first three days of menstruation when the participant's pain score was at least 3.
Active Comparator: Warm-Water Footbath; Participants immersed their feet in 10 L of warm water without magnesium sulfate for 20 minutes. The water temperature was maintained between 34°C and 37°C. The feet were immersed to approximately 10-15 cm above the ankles. The intervention was performed at home and supervised by the researchers through a video call.	Other: Warm-Water Footbath; A 20-minute footbath using 10 L of warm water without magnesium sulfate. The water temperature was maintained between 34°C and 37°C, and the feet were immersed to approximately 10-15 cm above the ankles. The intervention was administered during the first three days of menstruation when the participant's pain score was at least 3.
No Intervention: No-Intervention Control; Participants received no footbath or other study intervention during the two-hour follow-up period. They were instructed not to use analgesics, heat therapy, or other nonpharmacological pain-relief methods during this period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Visual Analogue Scale Pain Score	Menstrual pain intensity was assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicated no pain and 10 indicated the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicated greater pain intensity.	Baseline, immediately after the 20-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Present Pain Intensity Score	Present pain intensity was assessed using the Present Pain Intensity component of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Scores range from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.	Immediately after the 20-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention
Sensory Pain Rating Index Score	The sensory dimension of pain was assessed using the 11 sensory descriptors of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Each descriptor is rated from 0 to 3. Total sensory scores range from 0 to 33, with higher scores indicating greater sensory pain.	Immediately after the 20-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention
Affective Pain Rating Index Score	The affective dimension of pain was assessed using the four affective descriptors of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Each descriptor is rated from 0 to 3. Total affective scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater affective pain.	Immediately after the 20-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention
Total Pain Rating Index Score	The total Pain Rating Index was calculated by summing the sensory and affective descriptor scores of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Scores range from 0 to 45, with higher scores indicating greater pain.	Immediately after the 20-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kocaeli University
• Collaborators: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 22, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): May 22, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Menstrual pain; Magnesium sulfate; Young women; Footbath
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathologic Processes; Pelvic Pain; Menstruation Disturbances; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Dysmenorrhea
• Other Study ID Numbers: SDilek14; 1919B012414230 (Other Grant/Funding Number: TUBITAK)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because data sharing was not included in the participant consent process.

Drug and device information, study documents

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