ABSTRACT:
Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of stretching and sling exercises on pelvic correction and dysmenorrhea in university students. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The subjects were divided into three groups: sling exercise group, stretching group, and control group. All groups performed each exercise for 40 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks. The control group received thermotherapy. All groups were measured for pelvic alignment, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Menstrual Distress Questionnaire(MDQ). Repeated measures ANOVA were used to verify differences between groups and assessment times with respect to pelvic alignment, VAS and MDQ. Findings: Comparisons of all three groups before and after the intervention revealed significant differences in the VAS and MDQ scores. The post-intervention decreases in the VAS scores of the stretching group were more significant than those of the control group. Comparisons of pelvic alignment before and after the intervention in each group indicated that sling exercise significantly decreased sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance, pelvic inclination, and pelvic torsion. In addition, stretching significantly decreased sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance, pelvic inclination, pelvic torsion, and pelvic obliquity. The control group, however, did not demonstrate decreases in any of the variables, with the exception of coronal imbalance. In the stretching group, in particular, post-intervention pelvic inclination was more significantly decreased than that of the control group. Improvements/Applications: Sling and stretching exercises improve pelvic alignment, painful menstruation and dysmenorrhea. These exercises can be used as the data for various directions of interventions to alleviate or prevent dysmenorrhea.