Effects of Somatic Movement Therapy vs Core Strengthening in Premenstrual Syndrome
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Group A (Somatic Movement Therapy), Group B (Core Strengthening Exercise).
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Premenstrual Syndrome. Basic parameters: 18 years — 35 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effects of Somatic Movement Therapy Versus Core Strengthening Exercises on Symptom Severity, Perceived Stress, and Quality of Life in Premenstrual Syndrome
Overview
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a multifactorial disorder affecting women of reproductive age, causing physical discomfort, emotional instability, and reduced quality of life. This randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of Somatic Movement Therapy (SMT) and Core Strengthening Exercises (CSE) on symptom severity, perceived stress, and quality of life in 34 female participants aged 18-35 years diagnosed with PMS according to ACOG criteria. Group A will receive SMT, while Group B will perform CSE over a 6-week program. Outcomes will be measured using PSST, PSS-10, and WHOQOL-BREF, with data analyzed through SPSS version 27.
Detailed description
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a complex and multifactorial disorder affecting a significant proportion of women of reproductive age, often resulting in substantial physical discomfort, emotional instability, and reduced quality of life. Recent studies have confirmed the use of movement-based therapeutic interventions as effective prescription-free methods to provide relief of the symptoms associated with PMS. The purpose of the study is to examine and compare the effect of intervention (Somatic Movement Therapy (SMT) and Core Strengthening Exercises (CSE) on symptom severity, perceived stress, and quality of life in patients with PMS.
This randomized clinical trial will be conducted at Ghurki Trust and Teaching Hospital, involving a sample of 34 female participants aged 18 to 35 years with regular menstrual cycles and a clinical diagnosis of Premenstrual Syndrome according to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) criteria. A non-probability convenience sampling method will be used to recruit the participants, and they will be assigned randomly to two intervention groups.
Somatic Movement Therapy will be applied in Group A and will include breath awareness, proprioceptive training, somatic movement, and mindfulness-based relaxation. Group B will be subjected to a highly structured Core Strengthening Exercises regime that involves progressive movement on basic activation to endurance-based core exercises in a 6-week regime (3 sessions/week, 45 minutes/session). Outcome measures include the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) for symptom severity, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life. Evaluations will be done at baseline, post-intervention, and follow up. SPSS version 27 will be used to analyze data.
Interventions
- Other Group A (Somatic Movement Therapy)
Participants allocated to Group A will receive a structured Somatic Movement Therapy (SMT) program specifically designed to manage the physiological and psychological manifestations of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Each session will begin with a centering and breath awareness phase lasting 5 to 10 minutes, wherein diaphragmatic breathing is emphasized to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce sympathetic overdrive commonly observed in PMS. It is followed by 15 to 20 minutes of ge - Other Group B (Core Strengthening Exercise)
Participants in Group B will engage in a progressive Core Strengthening. The sessions will begin with a 5-10-minute warm-up period, which will include low-intensity aerobic activities, dynamic stretching, and simple joint mobilization exercises. The main activation step will take around 25-30 minutes and consist of guided exercises like abdominal bracing exercises, bridges, planks, and bird-dog variations. The progression will be systematic and start with simple exercises of control bases in wee
Primary outcome measures
- Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire [Time frame: 6 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Females aged 18 to 35 years.
- Married and single women
- Regular menstrual cycles (21-35 days) for the past 6 months.
- Diagnosed with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) based on ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) criteria
Exclusion criteria
- Diagnosed with PMDD or major psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression).
- Using hormonal contraceptives or mood/menstruation-altering medications
- History of gynecological conditions (e.g., PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids).
- Presence of chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, CVD, thyroid disorders)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Ghurki Trust Hoapital — Lahore
Publications
- Maharaj S, Trevino K. A Comprehensive Review of Treatment Options for Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. J Psychiatr Pract. 2015 Sep;21(5):334-50. doi: 10.1097/PRA.0000000000000099. PMID 26352222
- Tiranini L, Nappi RE. Recent advances in understanding/management of premenstrual dysphoric disorder/premenstrual syndrome. Fac Rev. 2022 Apr 28;11:11. doi: 10.12703/r/11-11. eCollection 2022. PMID 35574174
- Siahbazi S, Montazeri A, Taghizadeh Z, Masoomie RJJoRiM, Science D. The consequences of premenstrual syndrome on the quality of life from the perspective of affected women: a qualitative study. 2018;6(2):284-92.
- Itriyeva K. Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in adolescents. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2022 May;52(5):101187. doi: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2022.101187. Epub 2022 May 6. PMID 35534402
- Liguori F, Saraiello E, Calella P. Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder's Impact on Quality of Life, and the Role of Physical Activity. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Nov 20;59(11):2044. doi: 10.3390/medicina59112044. PMID 38004093
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07642232 · REC/RCR & AHS/25/0526