Pain-Induced Pulsograph Changes in Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives. To investigate changes in pulsograph caused by pain in primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients. Methods. Pulsograph and pain level of PD patients were detected using electropulsograph and Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively, at four time points, 7-10 days before menstruation (T0), maximal pain during menstruation (T1), immediately after acupuncture analgesia (T2), and 30 mins after acupuncture analgesia (T3). Parameters (t, h, w) and normalized time parameters (t′) of pulsograph were analyzed. Results. VAS pain scores decreased from 6.40 ± 1.13 at T1 to 0.70 ± 0.75 at T2 to 0.11 ± 0.32 at T3 (P<0.001 and 0.001). At T1, compared with those at T0, w1, h3, and h4 significantly increased (P<0.01), and t2, t2′, t3′, and h(d) significantly decreased (P<0.01, 0.001, 0.05, and 0.001). At T2, compared with those at T1, t1, w1, w2, h2, h3, t1′, and t4′ significantly decreased (P<0.05, 0.01, 0.01, 0.001, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.05), and h(d) significantly increased (P<0.001). There was no difference between T2 and T3. Conclusions. There are almost opposite changing trends in pulsographic parameters when pain occurs and when it is relieved in PD patients.