Effectiveness of Kinesiotaping in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as cramping pain in the lower abdomen occurring just before or during menstruation, in the absence of other diseases.

Dysmenorrhea is estimated to occur in 45% to 90% of women of reproductive age. It is a common cause of absenteeism and reduced quality of life in women.

Treatment for dysmenorrhoea aims to relieve pain or symptoms either by affecting the physiological mechanisms behind menstrual pain (such as prostaglandin production) or by relieving symptoms.

First line treatment for dysmenorrhoea is oral contraceptives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol or aspirin. However these present side effects and some women have contraindications to these treatments. Consequently, it´s necessary to study alternative treatments to drug treatments. Alternative treatments like heat, massage therapy, acupuncture also are used.

The Kinesiotaping uses an adhesive elastic cotton tape color invented by Dr. Kase in the 1970s. It is water resistant and retains its properties up to 5 days.

It has the characteristic to cause elevation of the epidermis and thereby reduce the pressure on the mechanoreceptors below the dermis. This would have the effect of reducing nociceptive stimuli.

Inclusion criteria

• Women presenting menstrual pain, 4 or more in VAS.
• Have attended gynecological examination in the past 18 months and had ever diagnosed as having a gynecological disorder different from primary dysmenorrhea
• Not have been diagnosed with secondary dysmenorrhea
• Regular menstrual cycles (cycle typical range of 21 to 35 days)
• Do not use an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) or taking oral contraceptive pills
• Nulliparous
• Ability to complete questionnaires in Spanish.

Exclusion criteria

• Women with mild dysmenorrhea (pain lower 4 in a numeric pain scale range 0-10);
• Women with irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles (outside the typical range of cycle 21 to 35 days);
• Women using an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) or taking oral contraceptive pills.
• Women who suffer from diseases diagnosed added
• Women to which it has undergone a surgical procedure for the treatment
• Provide skin lesions in the abdominal wall or in lumbar region
• Use or abuse of drugs or alcohol