Graded Motor Imagery for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD)

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if graded motor imagery can reduce pain sensitivity and period pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods with no medical cause). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is there a decrease in pressure pain threshold (increased pain sensitivity) with graded motor imagery? 2. Is the intensity of menstrual pain reduced by graded motor imagery? 3. Is GMI helpful to reduce menstrual symptoms and pain catastrophizing (negative thinking about pain)? Researchers will compare full GMI (active intervention), a sham GMI(inactive intervention), and a wait-list (no intervention) to see if GMI works better than the alternatives. Participants will: 1. Take part in a 6-week graded motor imagery program, sham program, or no intervention control. 2. Do laterality recognition, motor imagery, and mirror therapy exercises in the graded motor imagery group. 3. Complete pain and symptom assessments before and after the program, and again at follow-up.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07618832

Run by

Dr. Mehak Naeem

People needed

81

Starts

2026-04-06

Expected to finish

2026-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 30. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Female sex (aged 18-30 years)
• Diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea confirmed by a physician (painful menstruation for ≥6 consecutive cycles, in the absence of identifiable pelvic pathology on clinical and/or ultrasound evaluation)
• Pain ≥4/10 NRS experienced during the last period.
• Confirmed altered pressure pain threshold: PPT ≥2 standard deviations below published norms for age-matched healthy women, measured at baseline assessment
• Regular menstrual cycle (21-35 days)
• Capable of engaging in virtual video sessions and taking online tests.
• Consent to withhold new analgesic or hormonal treatments during the study period.

You may not qualify if…

• Secondary dysmenorrhea (endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts ≥3 cm confirmed on imaging)
• Current use of hormonal contraceptives (which alter prostaglandin levels and pain processing)
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Concurrent chronic pain condition (fibromyalgia, CRPS, chronic low back pain, chronic pelvic pain unrelated to menstruation)
• Neurological or psychiatric disorder that would impair motor imagery ability (stroke, schizophrenia, active psychosis)
• Cognitive impairment affecting informed consent capacity
• Participation in another clinical trial within 4 weeks before enrollment
• Previous exposure to graded motor imagery or mirror therapy
• Regular use of NSAIDs or opioids for non-menstrual indications

Where it is running

• Dr. Saqib Rabbani — Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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