DysmenorrheaNCT07717983
Abdominopelvic Fascial Release for Post-Cesarean Menstrual Pain and Scar Mobility
A study testing Abdominopelvic fascial Release in people with Dysmenorrhea and Cesarean Section, run by Cairo University.
Trial summary
The goal of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to determine whether adding abdominopelvic fascial release to a standardized stretching exercise program is more effective than stretching exercises alone in reducing menstrual pain in women following cesarean section. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 35 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Dysmenorrhea, Cesarean Section, Postoperative Adhesions
- What is being tested?
- Abdominopelvic fascial Release
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 58 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 18 Jul 2026to 24 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 35 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Females aged 20 to 35 years.
- History of at least one cesarean section.
- Moderate to severe primary or secondary dysmenorrhea following cesarean section.
- Regular menstrual cycles (21-35 days).
- Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m².
- At least 6 months post-cesarean section to allow complete scar healing.
- Presence of restricted cesarean scar mobility on clinical examination.
- Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Pregnancy or planned pregnancy during the study period.
- Previous abdominal or pelvic surgery other than cesarean section.
- Endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids requiring treatment, or other diagnosed gynecological disorders associated with pelvic pain.
- Active pelvic inflammatory disease or genitourinary infection.
- Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting pain perception or mobility.
- Systemic inflammatory, autoimmune, or connective tissue diseases.
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- Current participation in another physical therapy or manual therapy program targeting the abdomen or pelvis.
- Use of corticosteroid injections or other invasive treatments to the abdominal or pelvic region within the previous 3 months.
- Contraindications to manual therapy.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Amira I. Hassanein contact
About this study
Official title: Abdominopelvic Fascial Release for Post-Cesarean Menstrual Pain and Scar Mobility: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to determine whether adding abdominopelvic fascial release to a standardized stretching exercise program is more effective than stretching exercises alone in reducing menstrual pain in women following cesarean section. The study will enroll women aged 20 to 35 years with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea after cesarean delivery. Researchers will compare the effects of abdominopelvic fascial release combined with stretching exercises with stretching exercises alone on menstrual pain and scar mobility. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, undergo assessments before and after the intervention period, and receive the assigned treatment according to the study protocol.
Read the detailed description
Cesarean section is one of the most commonly performed obstetric surgical procedures worldwide. Although it is frequently necessary to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes, postoperative healing may result in scar formation and fascial adhesions that can contribute to persistent menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, reduced scar mobility, abdominal tenderness, and impaired physical function. Fascial restrictions may alter tissue mobility and biomechanics, leading to pain and functional limitations.
Abdominopelvic fascial release is a manual therapy technique that applies sustained, low-load pressure to restricted fascial tissues to restore tissue mobility, improve fascial gliding, reduce pain, and enhance tissue function. Previous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of fascial release on postoperative scar mobility, pain, and functional recovery; however, evidence regarding its effectiveness in women with menstrual pain following cesarean section remains limited.
The purpose of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether the addition of abdominopelvic fascial release to a standardized stretching exercise program provides greater clinical benefit than a stretching exercise program alone in women with post-cesarean dysmenorrhea. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups and evaluated before and after completion of the intervention period using predefined clinical outcome measures.
The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of abdominopelvic fascial release as a non-pharmacological physical therapy intervention for reducing menstrual pain and improving scar mobility following cesarean section. The results may support the integration of fascial release techniques into postpartum rehabilitation programs and contribute to evidence-based physical therapy management for women with post-cesarean pain and scar-related dysfunction.
- Conditions
- Dysmenorrhea, Cesarean Section, Postoperative Adhesions
- Being tested
- Abdominopelvic fascial Release
- Medical subject headings
- Dysmenorrhea
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Abdominopelvic fascial ReleaseOther
Abdominopelvic fascial release is a manual therapy intervention designed to restore mobility of the abdominal and pelvic fascial tissues by applying sustained, low-load pressure to fascial restrictions. The treatment targets the cesarean scar, abdominal fascia, diaphragm, and psoas muscle to improve fascial mobility, reduce tissue restrictions, alleviate pain, and enhance tissue function. The intervention will be administered for 30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 2 weeks by a licensed physiotherapist.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominopelvic Fascial Release + Stretching Exercises | Experimental | Participants assigned to the experimental group will receive abdominopelvic fascial release in combination with a standardized stretching exercise program. Abdominopelvic fascial release will be administered for 30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 2 weeks, and the stretching exercise program will be provided for 45 minutes per session, three sessions per week for 4 weeks. Receives: Other: Abdominopelvic fascial Release |
| Stretching Exercises Alone | Active comparator | Participants assigned to the control group will receive a standardized stretching exercise program for 45 minutes per session, three sessions per week for 4 weeks. Receives: Other: Abdominopelvic fascial Release |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Menstrual Pain Intensity
Menstrual pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a validated 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). The primary outcome is the change in VAS score from baseline to the end of the intervention period.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Cesarean Scar Mobility
Scar mobility will be assessed using an adheremeter. Greater mobility values indicate improved scar tissue mobility.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Change in Dysmenorrhea Severity
Dysmenorrhea severity will be assessed using the Working ability, Location, Intensity, Days of pain, and Dysmenorrhea (WaLIDD) Score. The total score ranges from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating more severe dysmenorrhea.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold
Pressure pain threshold will be assessed using a pressure algometer over the abdominal region.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Jul 2026
- Study start18 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion24 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion24 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for DysmenorrheaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups. The control group will receive a standardized stretching exercise program, whereas the experimental group will receive myofascial release in addition to the same stretching exercise program. Outcomes will be compared between the two groups following completion of the intervention period.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 58 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Amira Ibrahim Hassanein Abdel-aal, Horus University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07717983
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006452
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Abdominopelvic Fascial Release for Post-Cesarean Menstrual Pain and Scar Mobility: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07717983
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P.T.REC/012/006452
- Conditions
- Dysmenorrhea, Cesarean Section, Postoperative Adhesions
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 58 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 18 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 24 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 24 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to determine whether adding abdominopelvic fascial release to a standardized stretching exercise program is more effective than stretching exercises alone in reducing menstrual pain in women following cesarean section. The study will enroll women aged 20 to 35 years with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea after cesarean delivery. Researchers will compare the effects of abdominopelvic fascial release combined with stretching exercises with stretching exercises alone on menstrual pain and scar mobility. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, undergo assessments before and after the intervention period, and receive the assigned treatment according to the study protocol.
Detailed description
Cesarean section is one of the most commonly performed obstetric surgical procedures worldwide. Although it is frequently necessary to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes, postoperative healing may result in scar formation and fascial adhesions that can contribute to persistent menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, reduced scar mobility, abdominal tenderness, and impaired physical function. Fascial restrictions may alter tissue mobility and biomechanics, leading to pain and functional limitations.
Abdominopelvic fascial release is a manual therapy technique that applies sustained, low-load pressure to restricted fascial tissues to restore tissue mobility, improve fascial gliding, reduce pain, and enhance tissue function. Previous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of fascial release on postoperative scar mobility, pain, and functional recovery; however, evidence regarding its effectiveness in women with menstrual pain following cesarean section remains limited.
The purpose of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether the addition of abdominopelvic fascial release to a standardized stretching exercise program provides greater clinical benefit than a stretching exercise program alone in women with post-cesarean dysmenorrhea. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups and evaluated before and after completion of the intervention period using predefined clinical outcome measures.
The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of abdominopelvic fascial release as a non-pharmacological physical therapy intervention for reducing menstrual pain and improving scar mobility following cesarean section. The results may support the integration of fascial release techniques into postpartum rehabilitation programs and contribute to evidence-based physical therapy management for women with post-cesarean pain and scar-related dysfunction.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups. The control group will receive a standardized stretching exercise program, whereas the experimental group will receive myofascial release in addition to the same stretching exercise program. Outcomes will be compared between the two groups following completion of the intervention period.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominopelvic Fascial Release + Stretching Exercises | Experimental | Other: Abdominopelvic fascial ReleaseParticipants assigned to the experimental group will receive abdominopelvic fascial release in combination with a standardized stretching exercise program. Abdominopelvic fascial release will be administered for 30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 2 weeks, and the stretching exercise program will be provided for 45 minutes per session, three sessions per week for 4 weeks. |
| Stretching Exercises Alone | Active comparator | Other: Abdominopelvic fascial ReleaseParticipants assigned to the control group will receive a standardized stretching exercise program for 45 minutes per session, three sessions per week for 4 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 35 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Females aged 20 to 35 years.
- History of at least one cesarean section.
- Moderate to severe primary or secondary dysmenorrhea following cesarean section.
- Regular menstrual cycles (21-35 days).
- Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m².
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Pregnancy or planned pregnancy during the study period.
- Previous abdominal or pelvic surgery other than cesarean section.
- Endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids requiring treatment, or other diagnosed gynecological disorders associated with pelvic pain.
- Active pelvic inflammatory disease or genitourinary infection.
- Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting pain perception or mobility.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominopelvic fascial ReleaseAbdominopelvic fascial release is a manual therapy intervention designed to restore mobility of the abdominal and pelvic fascial tissues by applying sustained, low-load pressure to fascial restrictions. The treatment targets the cesarean scar, abdominal fascia, diaphragm, and psoas muscle to improve fascial mobility, reduce tissue restrictions, alleviate pain, and enhance tissue function. The intervention will be administered for 30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 2 weeks by a licensed physiotherapist. | Other | Abdominopelvic Fascial Release + Stretching Exercises, Stretching Exercises Alone |
Primary outcome
Change in Menstrual Pain Intensity
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Menstrual pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a validated 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). The primary outcome is the change in VAS score from baseline to the end of the intervention period.
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Cesarean Scar Mobility
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Change in Dysmenorrhea Severity
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Aug 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Amira I. Hassanein contact
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Abdominopelvic fascial Release in people with Dysmenorrhea and Cesarean Section, run by Cairo University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Amira I. Hassanein (ahassanein@horus.edu.eg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Menstrual Pain Intensity (time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Aug 2026.