Structured multimodal mobilization versus pilates-based motor imagery-focused pelvic floor exercises for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Primary dysmenorrhea impairs physical and emotional functioning. This prospective randomized controlled trial equally assigned 72 women aged 18–30 years to four groups: the structured multimodal mobilization group, the Pilates-based motor imagery-focused pelvic floor exercise group, the conventional treatment group, or the no-treatment control group. Active interventions comprised 24 twice-weekly sessions over 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) total pain score; secondary outcomes included SF-MPQ sensory and affective scores, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire, and Functional and Emotional Measure of Dysmenorrhea scores. Groups were comparable at baseline. Post-intervention pain differed significantly among groups. Structured multimodal mobilization produced the largest reduction in total pain score (15.44 ± 9.95 to 8.78 ± 6.78; mean change, -6.67 [95% confidence interval, -8.60 to -4.73]), although its post-intervention score did not significantly differ from the Pilates-based exercise group. Post hoc comparisons favored structured mobilization over Pilates-based exercise for VAS pain intensity, menstrual pain symptoms, and emotional dysmenorrhea. No adverse events occurred; all participants completed the trial. Pain scores decreased significantly within all active intervention groups, while structured multimodal mobilization showed outcome-specific advantages that require confirmation in larger multicenter trials with long-term follow-up.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07314021. Registration date: December 4, 2025.
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BibTeX
@article{bilgi2026structured,
title = {{Structured multimodal mobilization versus pilates-based motor imagery-focused pelvic floor exercises for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial}},
author = {Zeynep Betül Bilgi and Gizem Boztaş Elverişli},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-73307-y},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73307-y},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Structured multimodal mobilization versus pilates-based motor imagery-focused pelvic floor exercises for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial
AU - Zeynep Betül Bilgi
AU - Gizem Boztaş Elverişli
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-73307-y
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73307-y
AB - Primary dysmenorrhea impairs physical and emotional functioning. This prospective randomized controlled trial equally assigned 72 women aged 18–30 years to four groups: the structured multimodal mobilization group, the Pilates-based motor imagery-focused pelvic floor exercise group, the conventional treatment group, or the no-treatment control group. Active interventions comprised 24 twice-weekly sessions over 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) total pain score; secondary outcomes included SF-MPQ sensory and affective scores, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire, and Functional and Emotional Measure of Dysmenorrhea scores. Groups were comparable at baseline. Post-intervention pain differed significantly among groups. Structured multimodal mobilization produced the largest reduction in total pain score (15.44 ± 9.95 to 8.78 ± 6.78; mean change, -6.67 [95% confidence interval, -8.60 to -4.73]), although its post-intervention score did not significantly differ from the Pilates-based exercise group. Post hoc comparisons favored structured mobilization over Pilates-based exercise for VAS pain intensity, menstrual pain symptoms, and emotional dysmenorrhea. No adverse events occurred; all participants completed the trial. Pain scores decreased significantly within all active intervention groups, while structured multimodal mobilization showed outcome-specific advantages that require confirmation in larger multicenter trials with long-term follow-up. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07314021. Registration date: December 4, 2025.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -