Comparison of Deep Breathing Relaxation and Dysmenorrhea Exercise on Pain Reduction Among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea is a common menstrual problem among adolescent girls, often disrupting academic and daily activities. Various non-pharmacological methods are available to reduce menstrual pain, including deep breathing relaxation and dysmenorrhea exercise.
To compare the effectiveness of deep breathing relaxation and dysmenorrhea exercise in reducing menstrual pain among adolescent girls. This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. A total of 36 respondents were selected through purposive sampling and divided into two groups: the deep breathing relaxation group (n=18) and the dysmenorrhea exercise group (n=18). Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and after intervention. Data analysis used the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test for within-group comparison and the Mann Whitney U Test for between-group differences. Both interventions significantly reduced pain scores within each group (p < 0.05). The dysmenorrhea exercise group demonstrated a greater reduction in pain compared to the deep breathing relaxation group (p = 0.021). Dysmenorrhea exercise is more effective than deep breathing relaxation in reducing menstrual pain among adolescent girls. Schools are recommended to implement simple dysmenorrhea exercise routines as part of menstrual health education.