Uso do teste de caminhada de 6 minutos na comparação do desempenho físico de mulheres com e sem dismenorreia primária e secundária

Abstract

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by an intense and painful cramping sensation in the lower abdomen. According to the clinical presentation, dysmenorrhea can be classified as primary (PD) or secondary (SD), with the existence of a pelvic pathology such as endometriosis. Both PD and SD have pelvic pain as their most prevalent symptom, which is capable of altering their functional activities. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is able to measure the submaximal functional capacity of individuals in an easy and low-cost way. Objective: To compare physical performance using the 6MWT in women with and without PD and SD. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study in which 151 women were assessed between September 2022 and March 2023 and divided equally into 3 groups: the endometriosis group (EG), the primary dysmenorrhea group (PDG) and the control group (CG). After the initial assessment with anamnesis and physical examination, the functional test with the 6MWT was carried out according to the established protocol. Statistical tests were used to compare the three groups. Results: The EG volunteers were older and had a higher BMI (body mass index) when compared to the PD and CG groups. In the analysis of functional performance, the women in the SG walked less than those in the CG (431 and 480 meters, respectively), and this finding was statistically significant (p-value < 0.04). Conclusion: It was observed that women with endometriosis have a lower physical performance when compared to women without dysmenorrhea when the 6MWT is applied.