Effects of Flexibility Exercise and Supplement Vitamin B6 on Primary Dysmenorrhea in Female Non-Athletes

Background & aim: Primary dysmenorrhea or painful menses in women's medicine is one of the most common complaints that are associated with physical and psychological symptoms. The aim of this investigation was to study the effects of an eight week flexibility exercise and use of vitamin B6 on physical and psychological symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea in non-athlete females. Methods: In this clinical trial study, 60 non-athlete females, were randomly divided into 4 groups control, exercise, vitamins and exercise plus vitamin. They engaged in an 8-week exercise program that includes flexibility training, stretching the abdominal muscles, lower back, hamstrings and pelvis and hip stretches. Eight movements, each movement with 3 times repetition and each repetition lasting 10 seconds during 4 days per week was performed. The vitamins group used 2 tablets of 40 miligaram B6 vitamin daily during the 8 week program starting 2 weeks before menstruation to 3 days after menstruation. In the exercise with vitamin group, during the 8 weeks of flexibility traininig program females used from 2 weeks before menstruation to 3 days after menstruation 2 tablets of 40 miligaram B6 vitamin daily. The control group had no intervention. Before and after eight weeks, participants completed the menstrual disorders’ questionnaire. Data were analyzed. Results: Significant decreases in average of physical symptoms(exercise from 28/4 to 6/7,vitamin from 25 to 9/35,training with vitamin from 27/66 to 4/40) and psychological symptoms (exercise 25/86 to 5/93,vitamin 24/99 to 3/53,training whith vitamin 27/73 to 3/36) was observed. But physical and psychological symptoms in post-test of exercise group with vitamin had a significant decrease as compared wih other groups (p≤0/05). Conculusion: 8 weeks of flexibility and vitamin B6 usage may reduce the physical and psychological symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Keywords: Dysmenorrhea primory, Flexibility exercise, Vitamin B6, Non-athlete girls *Corresponding Auther: Motesharee E, Department of Physical Education, Science and Rsearch Branch, Islamic Azad University Fars,Shiraz, Iran Email:[email protected]