Comparative Study on Ginger Supplement and Aerobic Exercise on Primary Dysmenorrhea: The Case of Debre Markos University Students, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Dagnanesh Kindie Kassa, Edosa Jabesa Tolasa*

Background: Primary dysmenorrhoea is a chronic cyclical pelvic pain associated with menstruation in the absence of an identifiable pathological condition. Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common complaints of gynecological problem worldwide among young females. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12 week ginger supplement and aerobic exercise on primary dysmenorrhea the case of Debre- Markos university students.
Methods: Forty (40) female students who had the history of primary dysmenorrhea aged between 19-22 years from departments of sport science and Stastics students in Debre Markos University were selected by using purposive sampling technique. The selected subjects were divided into aerobic group (20) and ginger supplement group (20). Ginger supplement group consumed ginger tea for five days per week with once a day and aerobic group underwent aerobic exercise three days a week within 60 minutes for 12 weeks. Pre and post test was conducted on variables such as VAS, MSQ and BMI. The data collected from subjects were analysed by SPSS version 20.0 and the comparison of
mean value results were carried out by paired sample t-test. The level of significance was p ≤ 0.05%.
Results: The finding of the present study indicates that MSQ test from pre to post test showed positive significant change for ginger supplement group. Also VAS pre
to post test showed significant change (MD,0.900) for aerobic group and (MD,1.600) for ginger supplement group and BMI pre to post test showed (MD,0.725) for aerobic group and (MD, 0.642) for ginger supplement group. The result of the study showed that ginger group was more significant change than aerobic group in menstrual symptom questionnaires.

Conclusion: It was concluded that 12 week ginger supplement and aerobic exercise had positive effect on primary dysmenorrhea to reduce pain during menstruation.
Summary: Exercise causes to delay the start of prostaglandins gathering and reduced the menstrual pain by increasing endorphins and reducing stress and sympathetic
nervous activity, and also by increasing the blood flow to the pelvic. Research suggests that compounds found in ginger
may help to protect against the increases in inflammation, by inhibiting the body's production of prostaglandins (a class of pro-inflammatory chemicals involved in triggering the muscle contractions that help the uterus shed its lining). Treatments of primary dysmenorrhea in students with ginger tea and aerobic exercise for 12 weeks were significant effect on reducing intensity and duration of pain during menstruation and BMI. Ginger tea group shows more significant change than aerobic exercise group on reducing pain intensity during and before menstruation.