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NCT Number: NCT07544511

Effect of Hand Massage Stimulation on Pain and Menstrual Symptoms in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Purpose of this study: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of hand massage stimulation techniques on pain, daily menstrual symptoms and nausea and vomiting in primary dysmenorrhea.

H1a: Hand massage stimulation techniques reduce pain in primary dysmenorrhea. H1b: Hand massage stimulation techniques reduce daily menstrual symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea.

The data were collected from students suffering from primary dysmenorrhea pain studying at İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences. Seed therapy (su-jok) will be applied by researcher Esra Tan, who has a basic level su-jok therapy certificate.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Dysmenorrhea Menstruation Disturbances Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pelvic Pain Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences

Malatya, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of hand massage stimulation techniques on pain, daily menstrual symptoms and nausea and vomiting in primary dysmenorrhea.

Data will be collected from students experiencing Primary Dysmenorrhea at İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria and agree to participate will be informed about the study, and participants who fill out the "Minimum Informed Consent Form" will be included in the study. Data collection forms will be applied by the researcher, paying attention to student privacy, and the pre-test data collection phase will be completed. After the pre-test data collection phase is completed, hand stimulation techniques (su-jok seed therapy) will be applied by the researcher to the students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea in the experimental group. Students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea will be given detailed information about the application in the laboratory at the faculty, and pain points will be determined according to the reflections of the organs on the hand. Black pepper seeds, one of the seeds used in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, will be placed on the detected points and removed after 5-6 hours. This application will be done a total of 3 times in each cycle, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of the menstrual cycle. A total of 2 cycles of application will be made, the first menstrual cycle being the 1st cycle, and the final test data will be collected 5-6 hours after each application. This intervention will be carried out by Melike Tan, and the researcher has a basic level Su Jok therapy certificate. No intervention will be applied to the students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea in the control group, but the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Daily Menstrual Symptom Assessment Scale (GMDSS) will be administered simultaneously to the experimental group.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participant who is 18 years or older
  • Participant diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea by a gynecologist
  • Participant who has had regular menstruation in the last 6 months
  • Participant whose menstrual pain continues for 8-72 hours

Exclusion criteria

  • Participant who is pregnant
  • Participant who has given birth before or has a history of pregnancy
  • Participant using intrauterine or oral contraceptives
  • Participant who is taking any anti-inflammatory, analgesic and psychotherapeutic medication
  • Participant with any history of pelvic pathology or pelvic surgery
  • Participant with any neurological or systemic disease

Treatment and study plan

seed threrapy (su-jok)

Other

In hand massage, tiny swellings called "ball conformity" occur on the reflection points of the organs where the complaint occurs on the hands and feet. It is argued that the sensitivity of the relevant point to pressure has a direct correlation with the level of pain in the body part. A rod called a "diagnostic probe" or "diagnostic rod" made of metal, plastic or wood, approximately ten centimeters long, is used to detect the painful point on the hand and foot. After the correct point is detected, various techniques are applied to stimulate these points and ensure the continuation of the energy flow.In this study, the seed massage technique, which does not cause any side effects among the hand massage stimulation methods, requires a basic level certificate for its use, does not require being a health professional, and can be easily applied by anyone, will be used. Seed massage is a method applied by first detecting pain through a probe on the points of the organs reflected on the hand

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy]

    Description: VAS is a scale created in the range of 0-10 cm. According to the scale, 0 cm means the pain is not severe at all, and 10 cm means unbearable pain. On the scale, 0-44 mm indicates mild pain, 45-74 mm indicates moderate pain, and 75-100 mm indicates severe pain.

    Time Frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Daily Menstrual Symptom Assessment Scale (DMSA)

    Time frame: At baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of seed therapy]

    The GMMSS was developed by Taylor in 1979 to assess symptoms and their severity during menstruation. The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale were established by Oskay et al. in 2008. The scale consists of seventeen items, with each symptom severity scored between 0 and 5, and there are no subscales. An increase in the score indicates an increase in symptom severity. In Oskay et al.'s study, the Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was found to be 0.88.

    [Time Frame: Initially (before intervention) and immediately after completion of insemination treatment]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Inonu University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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