Published Paper Details:

Abstract Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological problem among adolescent and young adult females, often affecting daily activities and quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions such as Yoga and Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique (JPMRT) have shown beneficial effects in reducing menstrual pain and associated symptoms. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 34 college-going girls aged 18-25 years with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A (Yoga) and Group B (JPMRT). Yoga was performed for 6 weeks, 4 sessions per week, while JPMRT was practiced twice daily during menstrual days for two consecutive cycles. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS-11) and menstrual symptoms using the Menstrual Symptom Scale (MSS) before and after the intervention. Paired and unpaired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.0001). However, post-intervention comparison showed significantly greater reduction in NPRS (p = 0.0130) and MSS (p = 0.0054) scores in the Yoga group compared to the JPMRT group. Conclusion: Yoga was found to be more effective than Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique in reducing pain intensity and menstrual symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea. Keywords: Primary dysmenorrhea, Yoga, Jacobson relaxation, NPRS, MSS