Efficacy of Tuina plus Ba Duan Jin for primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Ba Duan Jin (Eight-brocade Exercise) plus Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) in treating primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis in female college students and on the score of fatigue scale-14 (FS-14).MethodsSeventy-two female college students with primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis were randomized into a Tuina group and a joint group, with 36 cases in each group. The Tuina group only received Tuina manipulations. In the joint group, besides the same Tuina manipulations, patients practiced Ba Duan Jin. For both groups, the once-daily intervention was conducted from 6 d before the menstrual period until menstrual day 1 for 3 menstrual cycles. Changes in the scores of COX menstrual symptom scale (CMSS), visual analog scale (VAS), and FS-14 after the intervention were observed. Clinical efficacy was also estimated.ResultsDuring the process, 1 case dropped out in the Tuina group, and 35 cases completed the intervention; 2 cases dropped out in the joint group, and 34 cases completed the intervention. The total effective rate was 94.1% in the joint group, higher than 88.6% in the Tuina group (P<0.05). After treatment, the symptom duration and intensity scores in the scores of CMSS, VAS, and FS-14 declined in both groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the CMSS symptom duration score and FS-14 score were lower in the joint group than in the Tuina group (P<0.05).ConclusionTuina manipulations alone or combined with Ba Duan Jin practice can effectively treat primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis in female college students; when combined with Ba Duan Jin practice, Tuina manipulations can more significantly improve pain duration and fatigue, suggesting the advantages of combining Tuina Gongfa and manipulations.