Sensitive, motor and pain threshold evaluation in women with primary, moderate or severe dysmenorrhea

• Grant number: 13/04497-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Alberto Nogueira
• Grantee: Guilherme Robles Chaparim
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most frequent complaints among women in daily gynecological clinics. It is responsible for high rates of absenteeism in school and work. Currently, one important point on the treatment and evaluation of clinical response in painful syndromes is the identification of pain threshold. In women, studies show that this threshold may be influenced by the menstrual cycle; and this threshold may be lower in women with dysmenorrhea when compared to women without it. Justification: The quantification of this threshold will be important to the treatment of severe primary dysmenorrhea by Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which current intensity will be adjusted according to the sensitivity and pain threshold that will be defined in this study, in a way that the equipment becomes a pattern to ensure analgesia to these women. Objective: evaluate experimental sensitivity, motor and pain threshold by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and pressure algometry on volunteers that suffer from severe primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: a case-control study of mensuration of the experimental sensitive, motor, and pain threshold by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and pressure algometry on women that suffer from primary dysmenorrhea. Expected Result: determine the sensitivity and pain threshold of women with primary dysmenorrhea, in order to adjust the intensity of TENS, standardizing the equipment that will be used in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. With this, we could supply data about the pathophysiology of sensitive, motor, and pain threshold and purpose a personalized treatment by a piece of portable equipment produced specifically for these patients which is more effective, has low costs, is easily handled, and can be used for many months. This study has social, scientific, and personal training importance besides having the potential of being published in a journal with an international circulation. (AU)