Effects of cold versus hot compress on pain in university students with primary dysmenorrhea

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:  Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological complaint among young women. Several therapeutic resources have been studied, aiming at reducing pain. The objective of this study was to identify the influence of cold or hot compresses on pain intensity and pressure pain tolerance thresholds in women with primary dysmenorrhea.

METHODS:  A single-blind randomized clinical study involving 40 young women divided into two groups: hot compress or cold compress, applied for 20 minutes on the lower abdomen and lower back regions. Pressure pain tolerance thresholds were evaluated by algometry in the vastus medialis, gluteus maximus, lumbar paravertebral muscles and supraspinatus ligaments L4-L5 and L5-S1. Pain intensity was assessed by the visual analog scale.

RESULTS:  No significant changes in pressure pain tolerance thresholds were observed immediately after the application of the compresses, nor 30 minutes later. The comparison of the variation in the effect of changes showed no differences between the intervention groups, either regarding the pressure pain tolerance thresholds or the visual analog scale. However, both groups had a significant reduction in the visual analog scale right after the application and 30 minutes after the end of the intervention. Nevertheless, right after the use of the compresses, as well as 30 minutes after its end, the group that received the cold compress had a more significant reduction in pain intensity (p=0.002 and p=0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION:  Cold or hot compresses did not produce changes in pressure pain tolerance thresholds. However, pain perception was lower after this treatment, especially in the group using cold compresses.

Keywords: Dysmenorrhea; Pain measurement; Physical therapy modalities

RESUMO

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS:  A dismenorreia é a queixa ginecológica mais comum em mulheres jovens, e diversos recursos terapêuticos visando a redução da dor vêm sendo testados. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência de compressas frias ou quentes sobre a intensidade da dor e o limiar de tolerância de dor à pressão em mulheres com dismenorreia primária.

MÉTODOS:  Estudo clínico randomizado simples encoberto envolvendo 40 jovens divididas em dois grupos: compressa quente ou compressa fria, aplicadas por 20 minutos nas regiões do abdômen inferior e lombar. O limiar de tolerância de dor à pressão foi avaliado por algometria nos músculos vasto medial, glúteo máximo, paravertebrais lombares e ligamentos L4-L5 e L5-S1. A intensidade da dor foi avaliada pela escala analógica visual.

RESULTADOS:  Não foram observadas alterações significantes imediatamente após a aplicação das compressas, nem tampouco 30 minutos após a aplicação no que concerne aos limiares de tolerância de dor à pressão. A comparação da variação do efeito das intervenções não revelou diferenças entre os grupos de intervenção, tanto em relação aos limiares de tolerância de dor à pressão, quanto em relação à escala analógica visual. Entretanto, ambos os grupos apresentaram redução significante na escala analógica visual logo após a aplicação e depois de 30 minutos do término em relação ao momento anterior à intervenção. Apesar disso, logo após a aplicação da compressa, bem como 30 minutos após o término, o grupo que usou compressa fria exibiu maior redução da intensidade da dor (p=0,002 e p=0,004, respectivamente).

CONCLUSÃO:  Compressas frias ou quentes não provocaram alterações no limiar de tolerância de dor à pressão, porém, a percepção da dor foi menor após a aplicação do tratamento, especialmente no grupo que fez uso da compressa fria.

Descritores: Dismenorreia; Mensuração da dor; Modalidades de fisioterapia

INTRODUCTION

Dysmenorrhea is considered the most common gynecological complaint by young women and affects approximately 60-80% of the female population. It is characterized by pain in the lower abdomen and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and fainting^1,2. Around 8-18% of that population report intense discomfort, causing absenteeism in several daily activities while suffering pain³.

Dysmenorrhea may be rated in relation to intensity as light, moderate or severe, and to etiology as primary or functional, and secondary or organic^1,4.

Some resources have been used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. The use of medicinal plants seems to be effective for the treatment of that dysfunction⁵. Resources such as yoga, acupuncture and acupressure have also been used to treat menstrual pain^6,7. It has already been shown that the combination of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and thermotherapy produces acute pain relief in women with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea⁸. Yet, the use of drugs also has efficacy in its treatment⁹.

Among the physical therapy resources available for analgesia, thermotherapy is an option commonly used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea¹⁰. The application of cold or heat through compresses is a practical and low-cost resource in their treatment¹⁰. A study¹¹ compared groups of 10 participants who received cold or hot compress applied to the lower abdomen, one to two days before the menstrual period, and during the menstrual period. The authors found, through the visual analog scale (VAS) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire, that volunteers who received treatment with cold compress presented a higher satisfaction with the method and a more significant reduction of pain in comparison to those who used heat.

As there are still few studies about the use of non-pharmacological and low-cost resources to reduce the pain during the follicular period, studies are required in order to assess the effectiveness of the options available for that purpose¹⁰.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of a single session of cold compresses versus hot compresses on pain intensity and pressure pain tolerance threshold (PPT) in women with primary dysmenorrhea. 

METHODS

One hundred eleven university students enrolled in higher education in a private educational institution in the city of São Paulo were recruited through direct contact. They were all informed about the research and signed the Free and Informed Consent Term (FICT) prepared according to the recommendations set forth in Resolution 466 of the Brazilian National Health Council and the Declaration of Helsinki.

The inclusion criteria were age between 18 and 30 years, independent walking ability and presence of primary dysmenorrhea. Exclusion criteria were pregnant women, smokers, having children, a history of uterine diseases, and the use of hormonal contraceptives.

Volunteers underwent an individual assessment in a private place for the collection of demographics, age, gender, ethnicity, education, weight, height and pain intensity.

Pain intensity was assessed by VAS¹². It is a straight line from 0 to 10 cm drawn on a paper, where on one end is written “no pain” (point zero) and on the other end is “maximum pain” (point 10). Each participant was asked to score on the straight line her level of discomfort. The closer the mark was to the source (zero cm), the lower would be the intensity of pain perception. On the other hand, the closer to the end of the line (10 cm), the higher would be the pain intensity.

Sixty-five women with a history of primary dysmenorrhea and pain by VAS above 4 in the follicular phase were selected to participate in the study. Nevertheless, 15 did not express interest in participating; four were taking drugs, and six gave up participating before the assessment. The final sample consisted of 40 women, randomly divided by a simple draw in two groups: hot compress (HC-n=22) or cold compress (CC-n=18).

Participants were also assessed regarding PPT, which measures the pressure the person supports at a particular body site through algometry. The Wagner Force Dial (FDK/FDN SERIES Push Pull Force Gaga, GREENWICH CT, USA) algometer was used for it. The handheld device contains a 1cm diameter rubber end. The pressure was applied at a constant velocity of 1kg/sec until the volunteer reported the level of pain or discomfort. The reading is expressed in kg/cm². During the assessment, the volunteer was instructed to say “stop” as soon as the feeling of pressure changed from unpleasant to painful. The test was interrupted as soon as the volunteer indicated the onset of pain, and the final amount of force applied was recorded.

Algometry was applied in six predefined muscle points, identified below, to assess PPT:

• RLP: right lumbar paravertebral region, LLP: left lumbar paravertebral region. In that assessment, the subject remained in the prone position, with lower limbs extended¹³.

• SL: supraspinatus ligament L4-L5, L5-S1. The subject remained in lateral decubitus position, with lower limbs extended¹⁴.

• RMG: right middle gluteus; LMG: left middle gluteus. For that assessment, the subject remained in lateral decubitus position, with lower limbs extended, as previously described in literature¹⁴.

Volunteers were assessed for VAS and PPT before, immediately after application of the compress and 30 minutes after its end.

Participants were instructed about the study procedures: they should be menstruating, they should not have taken, or taking drugs or any other method of pain relief and wear comfortable clothing at the time of the intervention.

Both groups received the applications on the day when they mentioned higher pain peak. The compresses were placed in the lower abdomen and lower back region for 20 minutes. The volunteer was positioned in lateral decubitus position, and a thin cloth was placed on the application sites in order to avoid burns and improve the fixation of the compresses on the site. The hot bags were made of synthetic rubber and heated with boiling water in an electric kettle. The cold bags were made of plastic containing cellulose-based gel and were kept in the freezer and removed at the time of application.

The Research Ethics Committee of Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo (UNASP-SP) approved this study under opinion number 2.141.655, 2017.

Statistical analysis

The data were analyzed by the SPSS v.24 statistical package for Windows and expressed as means and standard deviations. The demographic data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and the Student’s t-test performed the comparison between the groups for independent samples. The comparison of the interventions was made by the two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and to compare the change in the effect of the interventions (delta). The Student’s t-test was used for independent samples. The a significance level established in all cases was 5%.

RESULTS

Table 1 shows the patients’ demographics. The groups happened to be homogeneous with regards to age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), temperature and perception of pain in VAS.

Table 1
Demographics data

Variables	HC (n=22)	CC (n=18)	p-value
Age (years)	20.91±2.24	21.06±2.10	0.834
Weight (kg)	58.62±9.39	61.73±16.21	0.478
Height (m)	1.61±0.09	1.62±0.06	0.769
Body mass index (kg)	22.61±3.86	23.41±5.57	0.609
Temperature (ºC)	35.77±0.54	35.75±0.53	0.916
Visual analogue scale (cm)	6.27±1.77	5.72±1.98	0.354

• Data presented as mean±standard deviation. HC = hot compress group; CC = cold compress group.

Regarding algometry, no significant changes were observed immediately after the application of the treatments, nor even thirty minutes after the application has finished (Table 2).

Table 2
Thresholds of pressure pain tolerance before, after and 30 minutes after the interventions

	HC				CC
	Before	After	30 min	Before	After	30 min	p-value
RMG	4.77 ± 2.48	4.01 ± 2.22	4.09 ± 2.02	4.60 ± 1.64	4.25 ± 1.85	4.35 ± 1.72	NS
LMG PLD	4.66 ± 2.32 3.45 ± 1.67	4.25 ± 1.88 3.61 ± 1.58	4.23 ± 1.68 3.58 ± 1.42	4.74 ± 1.57 3.88 ± 1.70	4.66 ± 1.62 3.66 ± 1.45	4.47 ± 1.67 3.67 ± 1.31	NS NS
LLP	3.67 ± 1.57	3.63 ± 1.76	3.71 ± 1.44	3.85 ± 1.71	3.56 ± 1.30	3.83 ± 1.24	NS
SL L4-L5	3.61 ± 1.83	3.71 ± 1.75	3.52 ± 1.43	3.84 ± 1.26	3.65 ± 1.40	3.49 ± 1.24	NS
SL L5-S1	3.55 ± 1.70	3.56 ± 1.74	3.56 ± 1.54	3.58 ± 1.33	3.40 ± 1.23	3.56 ± 1.19	NS

• Values in kg/cm², expressed as mean ± standard deviation. HC = hot compress group; CC = cold compress group. RMG = right middle gluteus; LMG: left middle gluteus; RLP = right lumbar paravertebral region; LLP = left lumbar paravertebral region; SL = supraspinal ligament; L4-S1, - L = lumbar; S = sacral; NS = not significant.

The comparison of the effect variation of the interventions (delta between the moments immediately after and before, and between 30 minutes after and before) revealed no significant differences between the two intervention groups, both in relation to thresholds of pressure pain tolerance and as regards to pain perception.

Regarding pain intensity (VAS), both groups presented a decrease in that variable immediately after application and after 30 minutes of its end in relation to the moment before the intervention. Such differences were statistically significant (Table 3).

Table 3
Evolution of pain intensity

Visual analog scale	HC (n=22)	CC (n=18)
Before	6.27±1.76*	5.71±1.98**
After	4.23±1.80	2.59±1.36
After 30 min.	3.53±2.37	1.70±1.36

• Data expressed as mean ± standard deviation; HC = hot compress group; CC = cold compress group;
• ^*
  p<0.001 in the comparisons between before and after and between before and 30 minutes after the intervention with hot compress;
• ^**
  p<0.003 in the comparisons between before and after, between before and after 30 min after and between after and 30 min after the intervention with cold compress.

The comparison between the groups in each of the three-time points assessed showed that there was no difference between them regarding pain perception assessed by VAS before the intervention (p=0.17). However, both after and 30 minutes after the intervention, the CG showed a more significant reduction of pain perception than HC (p=0.002 and p=0.004, respectively).

DISCUSSION

This study is similar to the survey¹¹ in which the efficacy of heat and cold in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea was observed. The authors included 20 women, divided into two groups: group A consisting of 10 volunteers treated with a heated thermal gel bag, and group B, also consisting of 10 volunteers treated with cold thermal gel bag chilled in the freezer. Both techniques were applied for 20 minutes in the lower abdomen region, one to two days before the onset of menstruation. In this study, the application of the compress was similar to the one in the study mentioned above regarding time length and site of application of the compresses, but it differs in the amount of the sessions. Such authors performed three sessions, one to two days before the beginning of menstruation, and found that cold compress is more effective than a hot one for relieving menstrual pain.

The study assessed volunteers by VAS and also assessed pain by direct measurement, algometry. However, only through VAS it was possible to observe a significant improvement, as already shown by other authors¹¹. And data corroborate these authors¹¹ in that cold compress is more effective than hot compress to relieve menstrual pain. Another study¹⁵ showed that the effect of the application of ice on the skin has a direct action on neurons and pain receptors, lowering the speed and the number of nerve impulses. The speed of that effect is due to its action on the gate control of pain mechanism, leading to the release of endorphins and enkephalins, pain-relieving substances.

However, although cold has shown better results concerning the HC group, the latter also obtained benefits in terms of decreased perception of pain intensity. This decrease probably occurred because heat can reduce muscle tension, which would briefly give the sensation of pain reduction, and it also acts on pain control by means of the gate theory, similarly to TENS, or even changing central pain thresholds or through a well-being sensation¹⁶. By conducting a review of physical therapy treatments in dysmenorrhea, a study¹⁰ pointed out that thermotherapy, either by cold or heat, is a recurring treatment for that dysfunction. The authors added that both could eliminate or reduce pain in a practical and economical way.

Also, to demonstrate the effectiveness of therapeutic means as a treatment, a study¹⁷ estimated the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in schoolchildren and compared the impact of exercise and hot water bag in the occurrence and severity of symptoms. The study concluded that both exercises and hot water bags led to a significant improvement in the severity of pain and menstrual distress in the groups studied. Subjects in both groups showed a clear change from moderate and severe degrees to a mild degree of pain. Although the change was evident after the first month of intervention, it became more prominent at the end of the third month in both groups.

Regarding non-pharmacological treatment options for dysmenorrhea, a study reports that interventions such as behavioral therapy, use of medicinal herbs, cutaneous electrostimulation, topical heat use, among others, have been poorly studied yet and lack good quality studies to confirm or not the effectiveness of such resources¹⁸. Such a statement is in line with a systematic review and meta-analysis reporting that although heat has been used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, strict quality studies should be conducted in order to provide more robust evidence about that resource¹⁹.

In this study, VAS and algometry were used to investigate the behavior of acute pain. Probably, no significant changes regarding algometry have been observed after both interventions since the time was short to promote changes in PPT, or it is even possible that the non-significance concerning PPT was due to the performance of a single compress session at the critical moment of pain.

This study has some limitations, such as the lack of a control group. There was also no specific test to confirm the occurrence of dysmenorrhea. Since the perception of pain intensity is a subjective measure, the data related to this variable were collected by self-report of the participants. Also, as pain may have a multifactorial etiology, the homogenization of women concerning the level of physical activity, lifestyle, and variables of emotional origin would possibly provide new information on that matter.

A strength of this study lies in the fact that assessments were performed by the same examiner, who was unaware of the treatment the volunteer had received. The application of the compresses was performed by a properly trained professional who was used to that kind of care, and the application of compresses was monitored individually to avoid differences in the length of time or form of application among the volunteers.

CONCLUSION

The application of cold or hot compresses caused no changes in the pressure-pain tolerance threshold in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Though, immediately after the application of compresses and 30 minutes after the end of the intervention, both groups presented a reduction of discomfort caused by pain. However, the CC group had a more significant reduction in pain intensity in comparison to the group that used HC.

• Gyan Karla Advíncola dos-Santos - https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1442-7713;
• Natália Cristina de Oliveira Vargas e Silva - https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0747-9478;
• Fábio Marcon Alfieri - https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5242-3246.

• Sponsoring sources: none.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Feb 2020
• Date of issue
  Jan-Mar 2020

History

• Received
  10 Oct 2019
• Accepted
  11 Dec 2019