Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Menstrual difficulties among

Adolescent Girls

 

Ms. Sheena Luvina E¹*, Mrs. Jayasankari S.², Mrs. Leena L. Raju³, Dr. Ravichandran⁴

 

ABSTRACT:

Adolescence is a phase of changeover from childhood to adulthood. For a girl, adolescence is a blend of physical and psychological preparation to enrol into a safe motherhood¹. Menstruation is a basic female physiological process, capable of affecting the several other metabolisms within the body². This study was conducted to Assess the Effect of Aerobic Exercises on Menstrual Difficulties among Adolescent Girls in a Selected School at Puducherry. Pre experimental one group pretest post-test design was used in this study. 60 adolescent girls who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected by Purposive sampling technique. On day one clinical variables and level of menstrual distress was assessed using Modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire with previous month experience. Aerobic Exercise session was started from 5^th day of the cycle up to 22nd day weekly 3 days for 30minutes in a common room. Post test conducted using Modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire on the 5^th day of the cycle the following month to assess the effectiveness of Aerobic Exercises. The study findings revealed that, the median difference in Menstrual Distress level between pretest and posttest with Aerobic Exercises intervention was observed to be highly statistically significant (p value<.0.001) Findings of the study revealed that there was highly statistically significant difference in the level of Menstrual Distress before and after Aerobic Exercises. Hence the study concluded that Aerobic Exercises being one of non pharmacological method was very effective in decreasing the level of Menstrual Distress among adolescent girls.

 

 

 

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood.¹ Menstruation is a basic female physiological process; capable of affecting the several other metabolisms within the body². Adolescent girls faces several difficulties during their menstruation. In some girls the effects are more aggressive than others³. And the symptoms could recur month after month which hampers their class performances, restricts social and recreational activities, leading to difficulty to mingle with friends. Menstrual distress is an increasing problem among adolescents which hamper their activities of daily living⁴. Menstrual distress is an increasing problem among adolescents which hamper their activities of daily living. The systemic symptoms accompanying cramps include nausea and vomiting (89%), fatigue (85%), diarrhoea (60%), lower backache (60%) and headache (45%)⁴. Aerobic exercise have been effectively notified as a relief measure in conjunction with non-pharmacological or medical measures to relieve menstrual distress as beta-endorphins are released, which flushed out prostaglandins. Exercise regimen stretches the connective tissues around the pelvis, hip flexors and muscles of inner thighs which promote optimum blood flow preventing ischemia due to severe uterine contractions. These exercises not only reduce pain, fatigue and depression but also increase body’s energy level and enhance mental well being⁵.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.     To assess the level of menstrual difficulties among adolescent girls.

2.     To assess the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on menstrual difficulties among adolescent girls.

3.     To determine the association between level of menstrual difficulties among adolescent girls with selected demographic and clinical variables

 

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁: There is a significant difference in level of menstrual difficulties before and after aerobic exercises.

 

H₂: There is a significant association between level of menstrual difficulties among adolescent girls with selected socio demographic and clinical variables.

 

METHODOLGY:

Research Appoarch: Quantitative research approach

 

Research Design: Pre experimental design with one group pre test post test design

 

Setting of the Study: St Joseph Cluny Girls Higher Secondary School, Puducherry

 

Variables:

Dependent Variable: level of menstrual distress

 

Independent Variable: Aerobic exercises

 

Population: Adolescent girls in the age group of 13-15 years. Study population includes adolescent girls studying in 9^th class at St Joseph of Cluny Girls Higher Secondary School, Puducherry.

 

Sample: The sample for this study includes adolescent girls studying in 9th standard of St Joseph Cluny Girls Higher Secondary School, Puducherry who fulfills the inclusion criteria.

 

Sample Size: 57

 

Sampling Technique: Purposive sampling technique.

 

Sampling Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria: adolescent girls who are;

·       In the age group of 13 - 15 years.

·       Having regular cycles (28-35 days).

·       Having mild, moderate, or sever menstrual difficulties as measured using moo’s menstrual distress questionnaire.

·       Willing to participate in the study.

 

Exclusion Criteria:  

Adolescent girls who are

·       Taking treatment for menstrual difficulties.

·       Having asthma, cardiac problems, anemia/difficulty in performing exercise.

 

Instruments and tools used:

Section A: Demographic Variables which includes age, type of family, area of residence and dietary pattern.

 

Section B: Clinical Variables which includes age of menarche, amount and duration of menstrual flow, regularity of periods, family history of menstrual difficulties, difficulty in daily activities, and absenteeism during menstruation.

 

Section C: Modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire

This standardized form was constructed by Rudolf H. Moos (1969). The MDQ is a 5-point scale which measures from no experience of distress to extreme distress.

 

Data collection process:

Formal permission was obtained from the school authorities before collecting the data. A formal survey was done to identify adolescent girls who have menstrual difficulties. 60 adolescent girls who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected by Purposive sampling technique. Information sheet was distributed to the participants and their parents. Consent from parents and assent from participants were obtained. Participants were gathered in the common room of the school and were requested to fill the Background data and Modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire to assess the level of menstrual difficulties recalling their previous experience of menstrual cycle. Aerobic exercise was demonstrated on the same day and instructed to join the aerobic exercise session from the 5th day of the cycle. Aerobic exercises session was conducted from the 5th day of their menstrual cycle weekly 3 days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 3.30 - 4.00pm) till the 22nd day. Post assessment was done to assess the effect of aerobic exercise in reducing the menstrual difficulties using Modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire on the 5th day of next menstrual cycle.

 

Findings of the Study:

Distribution of adolescent girls according to Demographic Variables:

39 (65%) adolescent girls were 14yrs of age. Majority, 44 (73.3%) adolescent girls belong to nuclear family. Most of them, 53 (88.3%) were from urban area. 48 (80%) adolescent girls were vegetarians.

 

Distribution of adolescent girls according to Clinical Variables:

With regard to age of menarche out of 60 girls 31(51.7%) participant’s attained menarche at the age of 12 years, 13 (21.7%) participants attained at 13 years, 12(20%) girls attained menarche at 11 years, 3 (5%) girls at 10 years and only 1(1.7%) participant attained menarche at 14 years respectively. 33(55%) participants had quite regular menstrual cycle of 28-35 days. Majority of participants 27(45%) had medium amount of menstrual flow 24(40%) participants had light amount of menstrual flow. 27 (45%) participants had menstrual flow of 4-5 days, 23(38.3%) had flow duration of 6-7 days and 10(16.7%) participants had menstrual flow for less than 4 days respectively.

 

Fig 1: Distribution of adolescent girls according to Level of Menstrual difficulties

 

Table 1: Comparison of Mean difference in level of Menstrual Difficulties before and after Aerobic Exercises among Adolescent Girls

                                                                                                                                                                                                      n=60

Sl. No.	Level of menstrual difficulties	Mean menstrual difficulties level	Standard Deviation	Z Score	p Value
1	Level of Menstrual Difficulties Before Aerobic Exercises	42	10.53	-6.740*	<0.001* S
2	Level of Menstrual Difficulties After Aerobic Exercises	28.12	7.08

*Significant at p<0.01

 

Table 2: Comparison of Mean difference and standard deviation between pre test and post test on selected aspects of menstrual difficulties among adolescent girls                                                                                                                                                                                               n=60

Aspects of Menstrual Distress	Pre test score		Post test score		Z Score	p Value
	Mean	Standard Deviation	Mean	Standard Deviation
Pain	8.47	2.54	5.52	1.92	-6.594	<0.001*
Impaired Concentration	3.58	2.40	1.64	1.64	-4.636	<0.001*
Behavioral Changes	7.73	2.87	2.41	2.41	-5.988	<0.001*
Autonomic Reaction	7.22	2.89	1.67	1.67	-5.661	<0.001*
Water Retention	2.60	1.27	1.38	1.15	-5.574	<0.001*
Negative Effect	12.40	3.50	8.60	2.18	-6.468	<0.001*

*HS-Highly Significant at P<0.001

 

Association between menstrual difficulties among adolescent girls with selected demographic and clinical variables:

There was no statistically significant association between level of menstrual difficulties with selected clinical and demographic variables like age at menarche, family history of menstrual difficulties, participant’s age, type of family, area of residence, food pattern and family income.

 

DISCUSSION:

In the present study of the total of 60 adolescent girls, 55 adolescent girls had moderate level of menstrual distress and 5 adolescent girls had severe level of menstrual distress and none of the adolescent girls had mild and extreme level of menstrual distress. The current study revealed that there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test level of menstrual distress among adolescent girls. The mean score of menstrual distress before exercise were 42% and after aerobic exercise was 28.12% in the present study. In pre-test the mean menstrual distress was 42 with standard deviation of 10.53. In post test the mean menstrual distress was 28.12 with standard deviation of 7.08. The differences between pre test and post test was statistically significant at p < 0.05 (Z score -6.740). This revealed that aerobic exercise were highly effective in reducing the level of menstrual distress among adolescent girls.

 

CONCLUSION:

The study findings revealed that the mean difference in Menstrual Difficulty score before Aerobic Exercise and after Aerobic Exercises and the differences was ascertained to be highly statistically significant (p value <0.001). Hence the study has proved that aerobic exercises was very effective in improving the menstrual difficulty level.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Adolescence. In: Wikipedia [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Dec 2]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= Adolescence&oldid=927040285

2.      Jiji MSC. Effectiveness of pelvic rocking exercise on dysmenorrhea among adolescent girls aged 15-20 years residing in selected villages at Kanyakumari District. 2012; 107.

3.      Adolescence | Definition, Characteristics, and Stages | Britannica [Internet]. [Cited 2019 Dec 6]. Available from: https:// www.britannica.com/science/adolescence

4.      Aditya Prasad Sarkar, Ranjana Mandal,Supriti Ghoral. Premenstrual syndrome among adolescent girl students in rural school of West Bengal, India. IJMS&PH. 2016[ cited 2016 august 1]; 5(3): 411. Available at https://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/ 67/67-1437749170.pdf.

5.      T.K Soni, G Sumathi, Aerobic exercise: To trim down menstrual distress among adolescent girls. International Journal of Research in Pharmacology. 2014; 3(4): 374-381. Available from http:// www.ijrpp.com/sites/default/files/articles/IJRPP_15_102% 20 Soni.

 

 

Received on 04.03.2021         Modified on 28.03.2021

Accepted on 30.04.2021       ©A&V Publications All right reserved