Fatma Şule BİLGİÇ, Tülay YILMAZ, Hüsniye Dinç KAYA, Sevil GÜNAYDIN, Zülfiyye NURALİYEVA
Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences - 2026;16(2):233-244
Objective: This study investigated the effects of Sujok and massage on pain, dysmenorrhea impact, and quality of life in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: One hundred and twenty women with VAS scores 5 or higher were randomized into Sujok (30 min), Massage (20 min), or Control groups. Interventions were applied during the first three days of menstruation for three consecutive cycles. Data were collected using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea Scale (FEDS), and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale. Results: Baseline characteristics and scores showed no significant differences between groups (p > .05). Analysis of VAS scores over three cycles revealed significant time, group, and time-group interaction effects (p<.001). In post-hoc analysis, both intervention groups exhibited significantly lower pain scores than the control group (p<.001). Regarding dysmenorrhea-related quality of life, Sujok and Massage groups showed significant improvements in FEDS sub-dimensions and total scores from pretest to posttest (p<.01). Significant differences were identified between the three groups in posttest FEDS and SF-36 mean scores (p<.05). SF-36 results indicated that both interventions significantly increased all sub-dimensions including Physical Functioning, Vitality, and Mental Health compared to the control group (p<.001). Specifically, the Sujok group achieved the most significant recovery in the SF-36 pain sub-dimension (p<.001). No significant changes occurred in the control group (p>.05). Conclusion: Both Sujok and massage interventions effectively reduced pain and dysmenorrhea impact while enhancing quality of life.
