Effect of Gym Ball Exercise and Music Therapy on Menstrual Discomfort Gim Mina1, Choi Jung-Hyun1 1Dept. of Physical Therapy, Namseoul University, South Korea Online published on 14 May, 2018. Abstract This study investigated the effect of applying gym ball exercise and music therapy on the menstrual discomfort of 20 female university students in their 20s. Subjects were divided into a gym ball exercise group (GBEG) and a music therapy group (MTG). Intervention sessions for each group started 3 weeks before the predicted menstrual date and ended on the last day of menstruation. Subjects attended 3 session a week for a total of 12 sessions. Measurement of menstrual discomfort was done using the menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ). Pre-and post-intervention changes within groups was analyzed using a paired t-test and pre-and post-intervention changes between the two groups was done using the independent t-test. The GBEG showed a significant decrease in all but 5 categories of the MDQ. The MTG showed a significant decrease in one category. The GBEG and the MTG had no significant differences between each other. Gym ball exercises are easily accessible to female university students who experience menstrual discomfort and should be considered as an alternative intervention method to taking medication. Top Keywords Gym ball exercise, Music therapy, Dysmenorrhea, Premenstrual syndrome, Menstrual distress questionnaire. Top |