Understanding Painful Periods and Body Responses
This study is looking at how the body's muscles and automatic nervous system (which controls things like heart rate) respond to pain in women who experience painful periods (dysmenorrhea) compared to those who don't. Researchers will use a "Visceral Pain Stimulus" (a diagnostic test to create a temporary pain sensation) and measure your heart rate variability (HRV), hip movement, and leg muscle strength before and after. The goal is to see if women with painful periods have a different response. The study aims to enroll 60 women between 18 and 35 years old who are not pregnant or using hormonal birth control. The study status is unclear, so it's not known if they are currently recruiting.
- Study design
- This study is a case-control trial involving 60 women, comparing those with painful periods to those without.
- What's involved
- You will have an initial information session, track your menstrual cycle and daily heart rate variability for 30 days, and then attend one lab session for testing.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Heart rate variability will be measured from baseline to the end of the lab testing session, approximately 60 minutes.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
A Research Study Exploring How Musculoskeletal Function and the Autonomic Nervous System Relate to Visceral Pain in Women With and Without Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods).
At a glance
Conditions
NCT07209566
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, Californiastudy coordinator listed
Recruiting
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Derrick Sueki, PT, PhD, DPT · STUDY_CHAIR · Azusa Pacific University
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
What this trial measures
- Change in hip range of motionChange from baseline to immediately after the pain stimulus is given.
The change in hip range of motion from baseline to after a visceral pain stimulus is a primary outcome measure of this study. This measurement will be compared between groups to determine if those with dysmenorrhea react to a painful stimulus differently compared to those without dysmenorrhea.
- Change in dorsiflexor strengthFrom baseline to immediately after the pain stimulus.
The change in strength of ankle dorsiflexors on the contralateral side of the hip being measured will also be assessed. This will be measured before and after the visceral pain stimulus to determine if there is a change. This measurement will be compared between groups to determine if those with dysmenorrhea react to a painful stimulus differently compared to those without dysmenorrhea.
- Heart Rate VariabilityFrom baseline to the end of the lab testing session, approximately 60 minutes.
Heart rate variability will be measured throughout, and several time frames will be marked, including a 5-minute baseline within a 15-minute session, at the time of insertion of the probe, and at the pain stimulus, to determine if those with dysmenorrhea react to a painful stimulus differently compared to those without dysmenorrhea.