The Effect of Workplace Stretching Exercises on Menstrual Pain Complaints among Female Workers
Keywords:
Dysmenorrhea, Female Workers, Menstrual Pain, Occupational Health, Workplace StretchingAbstract
Background: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common reproductive health problems among women of productive age and may adversely affect work performance, attendance, and quality of life. One potential non-pharmacological intervention is workplace stretching, a simple exercise program that can be performed in the workplace to improve physical well-being and reduce menstrual pain. This study aimed to determine the effect of workplace stretching exercises on menstrual pain among female workers. Methods: A quantitative study was conducted using a pre-experimental approach with a One Group Pretest–Posttest Design. Sixty female workers were recruited through purposive sampling according to predetermined inclusion criteria. Participants completed a four-week workplace stretching program performed three times per week for approximately 15–20 minutes per session. Menstrual pain intensity was assessed before and after the intervention using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Paired Sample t-test with a significance level of 0.05. Results : The mean menstrual pain score decreased from 6.87 ± 1.29 before the intervention to 3.15 ± 1.18 after completing the stretching program. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in pain intensity following the intervention (p < 0.001), indicating that workplace stretching effectively reduced menstrual pain among the participants. Conclusion: Workplace stretching significantly reduced menstrual pain complaints among female workers. This exercise program may serve as a practical, safe, and cost-effective non-pharmacological strategy for workplace health promotion, contributing to improved reproductive health, greater work comfort, and enhanced employee productivity.
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