Effectiveness of Self-administered High Frequency pocket TENS in pain intensity, and workability among university students with Primary Dysmenorrhea – A quasi-experimental study design

Background: Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD) is a painful condition affecting women of childbearing age, often hindering daily tasks. In Physical Therapy, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is widely used to relieve pain without side effects. Our study assesses the effectiveness of self-administered high-frequency pocket TENS (HF TENS) in reducing pain and enhancing workability among university students with PD in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A quasi-experimental study involving 51 female university students was conducted. Participants received HF TENS with a pulse frequency of 100Hz for 30 minutes from day 1 to day 3 of their menstrual cycle. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for lower abdomen pain (LAP) and low back pain (LBP). The Workability, Location, Intensity, Days of Pain, and Dysmenorrhea (WaLIDD) score was used to determine dysmenorrhea severity. Pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments were conducted on day 1 and day 3 of the menstrual cycle, respectively. Results: The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a significant reduction in pain intensity for both LAP (Median pre-6; post-1) and LBP (Median pre-5; post-1) following HF TENS application (p < 0.001). Similarly, a significant improvement in dysmenorrhea severity was observed (p < 0.001). Fisher's exact test indicated a statistically significant association between HF TENS treatment and dysmenorrhea severit. Conclusion: Self-administered HF pocket TENS application effectively reduces pain intensity and improves workability among university students with PD in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.