Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Author (year) | Country | Study Design | Participants | N | Mean age | Comparison | EG (time, frequency, duration) | CG/EG (time, frequency, duration) | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbas et al., 2023 [36] | Egypt | RCT | Post-acute COVID-19 women (aged from 18 to 25 years) suffering from primary dysmenorrhea | 30 | 24.5 ± 2.60 | ME/NE |
EG (n = 15): 10 reps/exercise, 30 min/session, 2 sessions/day, 3 days/week, 4 weeks |
CG (n = 15): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Abdelaziz et al., 2020 [37] | Egypt | RCT | Female participants (aged from 14–20 years) had main complaints that were pain and cramping during menstruation | 60 | 17.645 ± 0.93 | MBE/AC |
EG (n = 30): 30 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 30): Active control (Kinesiotaping) | VAS |
| Agrawal and Ahmed, 2021 [38] | Maharashtra | RCT | Female students between the age group 16–25 years who were unmarried with regular menstrual cycle, and had moderate to severe dysmenorrhea. | 60 | NA | SE/CE |
EG-1 (n = 30): 5 reps + holding/exercise, 1 session/day, 6 sessions/week, 8 weeks. |
EG-2 (n = 30): 10 reps + holding/exercise, 1 session/day, 6 days/week, 8 weeks. |
NPRS |
| Akbaş and Erdem, 2019 [39] | Turkey | RCT | Female participants (aged 18–25 years) with primary dysmenorrhea (at least 4 on a 10 cm VAS) | 37 | 21.15 ± 1.51 | AE/NE |
EG (n = 18): 50 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 4 weeks |
CG (n = 19): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Aksu and Vefikuluçay, 2024 [40] | Turkey | RCT | Female university students (18 years, with regular menstrual periods) were diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea | 60 | 20.05 ± 1.20 | MBE/NE |
EG (n = 30): 60 min/session, 2 sessions/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 30): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Amreen et al., 2013 [41] | India | Three-armed RCT | Female students (aged between 19–25 years) were screened for primary dysmenorrhea | 24 | 21.08 ± 1.282 | RE/AC |
EG-1 & EG-2 (n = 16): 30 contraction/set, 3 sets/session, 3–4 sessions/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 8): Active control (10 min hot pack) | VAS |
| Arora et al., 2014 [42] | Navi Mumbai | RCT | Young female participants (aged from 19–24 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 60 | 20.565 ± 1.516 | AE/NE |
EG (n = 30): 50 min/session, 3–5 sessions/week, 12 weeks |
CG(n = 30): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Azima et al., 2015 [43] | Iran | RCT | Students residing in dormitories of Shiraz University, who were majoring in nonmedical fields and had primary dysmenorrhea | 68 | 20.91 ± 1.15 | CE/NE |
EG (n = 34): 10 times/session, 2 sessions/day, 5 days/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 34): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Behbahani et al., 2016 [44] | Iran | RCT | Single female below 25 years old, having primary dysmenorrhea with pain intensity of four and above based on VAS | 80 | 20.25 ± 1.52 | CE/AC |
EG (n = 40): 8 weeks |
CG (n = 40): Active control (Routine treatment for dysmenorrhea) |
MPQ |
| Berde, S.D. et al., 2019 [45] | India | RCT | Female college students with primary dysmenorrhea | 50 | NA | CE/AE | EG-1 (n = 25): 4 days/week, 8 weeks | EG-2 (n = 25): 4 days/week, 8 weeks | VAS |
| Boztas Elverisli et al., 2022 [46] | Turkey | Five-armed RCT | Female participants (aged from 18 to 30 years) with positive primary dysmenorrhea diagnosis | 46 | 20.335 ± 1.64 | ME/NE |
EG (n = 23): 60 min/session, 2 sessions/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 23): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Celik and Apay, 2021 [47] | Turkey | RCT |
Female students who experienced dysmenorrhea according to the VAS (scored 5 points or more) |
124 | 20.17 ± 1.41 | SE/NE |
EG (n = 64): 30 min/session, 3–7 times/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 60): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Chaudhuri et al., 2013 [48] | India | RCT | School girls with recurrent, spasmodic menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhea) | 128 (112) | 14 | ME/AC |
EG (n = 53): 10–15 min/session, 2 sessions/day, 7 days/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 75): Active control (Hot water bottle) |
VAS |
| Elbandrawy and Elhakk, 2021 [49] | Egypt | Three-armed RCT | Female participants (aged from 18–25 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 105 | 22.39 ± 1.89 | AE/CE/NE |
EG-1 (n = 35): 45 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 8 weeks EG-2 (n = 35): 5 reps + holding/exercise, 45 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 35): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Fallah and Mirfeizi, 2017 [50] | Iran | Four-armed RCT | College students aged 15–18 years with primary dysmenorrhea | 42 | 15.61 ± 0.94 | SE/NE | EG (n = 22): 20 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 2 times/day, 8 weeks | CG (n = 20): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Huang et al., 2022 [51] | China (Taiwan) | RCT | Females (aged from 18–40 years old), being afflicted with primary dysmenorrhea | 30 | 21.05 ± 2.31 | AE/NE |
EG (n = 15): 30–35 min/session, 2 sessions/week, 10 weeks |
CG (n = 15): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Ibrahim et al., 2023 [52] | Saudi Arabia | RCT | Females (18–23 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 33 | 20.93 ± 1.25 | SE/NE |
EG (n = 22): 10 reps + holding/exercise, 30–45 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 4 weeks |
CG (n = 11): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Jaibunnisha et al., 2017 [53] | India | RCT | Female participants with regular menstrual cycle and diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea | 67 | NA | SE/NE |
EG (n = 33): 10 min/session, 1 session/day, 6 days/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 34): Non-exercise intervention | NPRS |
| Kannan et al., 2019 [54] | New Zealand | RCT | Women (18–43 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 55 | NA | AE/NE |
EG (n = 35): 3 times/week, 28 weeks |
CG (n = 35): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Kaur et al., 2014 [55] | India | Three-armed RCT | Girls of age 19–25 years with primary dysmenorrhea were selected from lovely professional university and government college | 105 | NA | SE/MBE/NE |
EG-1 & EG-2 (n = 70): 4 days/week twice for 10 min, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 35): Non-exercise intervention | NPRS |
| Khare and Jain, 2015 [56] | India | RCT | Primary dysmenorrhea cases (aged 15–17 years) | 30 | NA | ME/NE |
EG (n = 15): 30 min/session, 2 sessions/day, 3 times/week, 3 weeks |
CG (n = 15): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Kirca and Celik, 2023 [57] | Turkey | RCT | Female university students in the 3rd and 4th year (aged from 18 to 24 years) with primary dysmenorrhea, and have a VAS value of 6 and over | 60 | 20.38 ± 0.48 | MBE/NE |
EG (n = 30): 60 min/session, one session/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 30): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Kirmizigil and Demiralp, 2020 [58] | Turkey | RCT | Women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea between the ages of 18 and 35 | 28 | 23 ± 1.92 | ME/NE |
EG (n = 14): 50 min/session, 3 times/week, 8 weeks. |
CG (n = 14): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| M.I. Ortiz et al., 2015 [59] | Mexico | RCT |
Sedentary female patients with primary dysmenorrhea aged from 18–22 years (pain intensity from 4 to 10 cm based on VAS) |
160 | 20.25 ± 1.21 | ME/NE |
EG (n = 83): 50 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 77): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Mintu Merin et al., 2020 [60] | India | RCT | Female participants (aged from 18–25 years) with any primary dysmenorrhea symptoms | 50 | 21.86 ± 0.904 | AE/CE |
EG-1: 4 days/week, 8 weeks |
EG-2: 10s holding/exercise, 12 times/set, 3 sets/day, 3 days/week, 8 weeks |
VAS |
| Motahari-Tabari et al., 2017 [61] | Iran | RCT | Students living in the university dormitory who had moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea for more than 50% of menstrual cycles lasting for at least one day and affected their daily activities | 122 | 21.45 ± 2.00 | SE/AC |
EG (n = 61): 15 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 61): Active control (Mefenamic acid treatment) | VAS |
| Ozturk et al., 2023 [62] | Turkey | Three-armed RCT |
University female students who scored menstrual pain 6 or higher on the VAS |
43 | 19.84 ± 1.51 | SE/NE |
EG (n = 22): 3 times/day on the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle, 8 weeks (two menstrual cycles). |
CG (n = 19): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Pastor, S. et al., 2023 [63] | India | RCT | Female college students (aged 18–25 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 30 | 19 ± 1.5 | CE/AE | EG-1 (n = 15): 5–12 repetitions/position, 40 min/session, 1 session/day, 4 days/week, 8 weeks | EG-2 (n = 15): 5–12 repetitions/position, 40 min/session, 1 session/day, 4 days/week, 8 weeks | NPRS |
| Patel et al., 2015 [64] | India | RCT | Female participants (aged from 17 to 25 years) with regular menstrual cycles and experienced moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea. | 120 | 21.32 | SE/NE | EG (n = 60): 2 times/day, 3 days/week, 8 weeks | CG (n = 60): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Qaisar and Abbas, 2023 [65] | Pakistan | RCT | Female participants (aged 20–30 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 24 | 27.32 ± 2.08 | CE/AC |
EG (n = 12): 20s holding×10 reps/position, 5-mins rest/set, 20 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 6 weeks |
CG (n = 12): Active control (Abdominal strengthening exercise with TENS) | NPRS |
| Raja Laxmi V. et al., 2016 [66] | India | RCT | Female participants (aged from 18–25 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 60 | NA | SE/CE | EG-1 (n = 30): 10 min/session, 2 sessions/day, 4 days/week, 7 weeks | EG-2 (n = 30): 20 min/session, 2 sessions/day, 4 days/week, 12 weeks | VAS |
| Rakhshaee, 2011 [67] | Iran | RCT | Female students with primary dysmenorrhea, 18–22 years old | 92 | 20.67 | MBE/NE | EG (n = 50): 20 min/session, at least 14 days of the menstrual cycle (luteal phase), 8 weeks | CG (n = 42): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Rashid et al., 2019 [68] | Iran | RCT | Participants’ age ranges from 18 to 24 with mild to moderate dysmenorrhea during the last three periods according to the McGill pain scale (1 < score < = 6.6) | 86 | 18.65 ± 0.64 | AE/AC |
EG (n = 43): 20–47 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 43): Active control (Two physical education classes once a week) | VAS |
| Rostami et al., 2006 [69] | Iran | RCT | Students had regular menstruation and severe primary dysmenorrhea | 142 | 16.56 ± 1.12 | ME/NE |
EG (n = 97): 20 min/session, 2 sessions/day, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 45): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| S Saleh et al., 2016 [70] | Egypt | Three-armed RCT | Participants experienced moderate to severe symptoms of dysmenorrhea | 126 | 20.72 ± 1.15 | SE/CE/NE |
EG-1 (n = 44): 4 stretching exercises, 10 min/time, 3 times/day, 3 days/week, 8 weeks EG-2 (n = 44): 4 core strengthening exercises, 20 min/time, 3 times/day, 4 days/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 38): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Sakuma et al., 2012 [71] | Japan | RCT | Healthy females (aged 20–64 years) | 98 | 33.61 ± 12.02 | MBE/NE |
EG (n = 67): one session/day, 7 days/week, 2 weeks |
CG (n = 31): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Samy et al., 2019 [72] | Egypt | RCT | Participants diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea | 98 | 21.47 ± 1.47 | AE/NE |
EG (n = 49): 60 min/session, 2 times/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 49): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Shah et al., 2016 [73] | India | RCT | Students from SPB Physiotherapy College | 40 | NA | SE/NE |
EG (n = 20): 4 days/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 20): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Shahrjerdi et al., 2019 [74] | Iran | RCT | Non-athletic, unmarried girls, aged 18–25 years, who suffered from moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea | 34 | 22.07 ± 0.98 | CE/NE |
EG (n = 17): 10 reps/exercise, 45–60 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 8 weeks. |
CG (n = 17): Non-exercise intervention | NPRS |
| Shirvani et al., 2017 [75] | Iran | RCT | Female students living in the dormitory with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea | 122 | 21.46 ± 2.05 | SE/AC |
EG (n = 61): 15 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 8 weeks |
CG (n = 61): Active control (250 mg ginger capsules) | VAS |
| Song and Kim, 2023 [76] | Republic of Korea | RCT | Young female participants (aged from 19–39 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 30 | 32.6 ± 4.18 | MBE/NE |
EG (n = 15): 50 min/session, 2 sessions/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 15): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Sudhakar, S. et al., 2017 [77] | India | RCT | Female participants with primary dysmenorrhea | 30 | 20.45 ± 3.42 | MBE/CE |
EG-1 (n = 15): 60s holding×5 reps×20s rest/exercise, 1 session/day, 3 days/week, 12 weeks |
EG-2 (n = 15): 10s holding/exercise, 12 reps/set, 3 sets/day, 3 days/week, 12 weeks |
VAS |
| Susan et al., 2018 [78] | India | RCT | Adolescent girl (18–23 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 30 | NA | ME/SE |
EG-1 (n = 15): 45 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 4 weeks |
EG-2 (n = 15): 10 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 4 weeks |
VAS |
| Temizkan and Budak, 2021 [79] | Turkey | Three-armed RCT | Women (aged from 15–30 years) with primary dysmenorrhea | 30 | 22.6 ± 1.99 | AE/NE |
EG (n = 15): 45 min/session, 3 sessions/week, 3 weeks |
CG (n = 15): Non-exercise intervention | MPQ |
| Tharani et al., 2018 [80] | India | RCT | Girls aged 17–23 years with regular menstrual cycle and VAS scoring > 6 and DASS-21 scoring > 19 | 30 | NA | SE/AE |
EG-1 (n = 15): 45 min/day, 3 days/week (alternate days), 8 weeks |
EG-2 (n = 15): 45 min/day, 3 days/week (alternate days), 8 weeks |
VAS |
| Yang and Kim, 2016 [81] | Republic of Korea | RCT | Undergraduate nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea | 36 | 21.06 ± 0.53 | MBE/NE |
EG (n = 18): 60 min/session, 1 session/week, 12 weeks. |
CG (n = 18): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Yonglitthipagon et al., 2017 [11] | Thailand | RCT | Non-athlete women with primary dysmenorrhea aged 18–22 years | 34 | 19.89 ± 1.20 | MBE/NE |
EG (n = 17): 30 min/session, two sessions/week, 12 weeks |
CG (n = 17): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
| Yosri, M.M. et al., 2022 [82] | Egypt | RCT | Female participants (aged from 19–25 years) having normal menstrual cycles, who were diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea. | 120 | 19.85 ± 1.16 | MBE/RE |
EG-1 (n = 30): 4 yogic positions, 6 days/week, 8 weeks |
EG-2 & EG-3 & EG-4 (n = 90): 4 yogic positions, 30 min of squatting exercise, 6 days/week, 8 weeks |
VAS |
| ZAID et al., 2022 [83] | Malaysia | RCT |
Female participants (aged from 18–29 years) with regular menstrual cycle and were diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea |
24 | 22.58 ± 0.83 | CE/NE |
EG (n = 12): 10 reps/session, 10 min/session, 2 sessions/day, 5 days/weeks, 8weeks |
CG (n = 12): Non-exercise intervention | VAS |
MBE Mind-body exercise, SE Stretching exercise, RE Resistance exercise, CE Core-strengthening exercise, AE Aerobic exercise, ME Multi-component exercise, NE Non-exercise intervention, AC Active control, EG Exercise group, CG Control group, VAS Visual analogue scale, NPRS Numerical pain rating scale, MPQ McGill pain questionnaire, RCT Randomized controlled trial, N Sample number, NA Not Available, rep Repetition