THE EFFECT OF ABDOMINAL STRETCHING EXERCISE ON REDUCING THE INTENSITY OF MENSTRUAL PAIN (DYSMENORRHEA) IN PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS AT THE MAKASSAR MINISTRY OF HEALTH POLYTECHNIC

Abstract

Background: Dysmenorrhea is pain during menstruation caused by increased prostaglandins, which can disrupt the activities and learning process of female students. Abdominal stretching exercise is a non-pharmacological therapy that has the potential to reduce pain by increasing muscle flexibility, blood circulation, and the release of endorphins. Methods: This study used a pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest method on 38 female students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea using a purposive sampling technique. Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and after the intervention, then analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Results: The average pain intensity decreased gradually from the first to the fourth week after abdominal stretching exercise. The Wilcoxon test showed a p-value of 0.000 (p<0.05), indicating a significant difference before and after the intervention. Conclusion: Abdominal Stretching Exercise has a significant effect on reducing the intensity of menstrual pain, making it a safe, easy, and effective non-pharmacological therapy alternative for female students experiencing dysmenorrhea.