Advances in Health and Exercise

Comparative study of the effects of lumbo-pelvic exercises and yoga on menstrual low back pain among female university students with primary dysmenorrhea

K. Kholashoturrubah — 2026-01-10

Background: Menstrual low back pain is a common complaint experienced by women during menstruation, often associated with dysmenorrhea. Non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise are recommended to reduce pain. Lumbo-pelvic exercises and yoga are both known to be effective, but their comparative effectiveness remains unclear. Objective: To compare the effects of lumbo-pelvic exercises and yoga on menstrual low back pain among female university students with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This non-randomized experimental study employed a two-group pretest–posttest design involving 20 female university students with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were divided into Lumbo-Pelvic Exercise (n=10) and Yoga (n=10) groups through purposive sampling. Interventions were given for six weeks, five sessions per week. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, Levene’s test, paired t-test, and Welch’s t-test. Results: Mean VAS scores decreased from 7.29 ± 0.68 to 3.53 ± 0.81 in the Lumbo-Pelvic Exercise group and from 7.39 ± 0.51 to 4.30 ± 0.66 in the Yoga group. Both interventions significantly reduced pain (p<0.05), with a greater reduction observed in the Lumbo-Pelvic Exercise group (p=0.025; Cohen’s d=1.19). Conclusion: Both exercises effectively reduced menstrual low back pain, but lumbo-pelvic exercises demonstrated superior short-term effects. These findings suggest that targeted core and pelvic stabilization exercises may be prioritized in managing menstrual low back pain. However, due to the small sample size and short intervention duration, further studies with randomized designs and larger samples are warranted.

Effects of playing surface on physiological, technical, and mood parameters in 5v5 small-sided soccer games in youth players

Galip Torbalı — 2026-01-18

Aim: This study aimed to compare the psychophysiological, kinematic, and technical responses of young soccer players during 5v5 small-sided games (SSGs) performed on artificial turf and natural grass surfaces. Method: Twenty male soccer players (age: 12.2 ± 0.41 years) participated in two experimental sessions conducted under standardized environmental conditions (29 °C, 40% humidity). Each player completed four 5-minute SSG bouts with 2-minute recovery intervals on both surface types, separated by 48 hours of rest. Total distance, mean heart rate (HR_mean), peak heart rate (HR_peak), percentage of maximum heart rate (%HR_max), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and physical enjoyment scale (PES) as well as technical actions and mood responses (Brunel Mood Scale; BRUMS) were recorded. Paired-sample t-tests were applied, and significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: No significant differences were observed between surfaces in HR_mean, HR_peak, %HR_max, RPE, PES, or total distance covered (p > 0.05). However, players performed significantly more successful passes, successful shots, interceptions, and ball losses on artificial turf than on natural grass (p < 0.05). Mood responses were largely independent of surface type, although minor effects were noted, including tension and vigour (p > 0.05). Conclusion: While the psychophysiological load of 5v5 SSGs was similar on both surfaces, technical performance was superior on artificial turf. These findings suggest that surface type has a greater impact on technical execution than on physiological or psychological responses during SSGs in young soccer players.

The effect of non-contact boxing training on physical performance in sedentary women

İsmail Balta — 2026-01-29

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of non-contact boxing training, applied two days a week for eight weeks, on certain physical parameters in sedentary women. Method: Nineteen healthy female volunteers participated in the study. Participants were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 9) using a stratified randomization procedure. Anthropometric measurements of the participants (height, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index and muscle mass) were recorded. Modified 30-second push-up, 30-second sit-up, 30-second squat, agility, simple visual reaction time, and handgrip strength tests were administered to the participants both prior to and following the training period. Results: Within-group (pre-test–post-test) comparisons showed significant improvements in handgrip strength, 30-second push-up, 30-second sit-up, 30-second squat, and agility in the experimental group, whereas the control group showed a significant increase only in the 30-second squat. No significant between-group differences were observed at baseline; however, post-test comparisons demonstrated significant differences in muscle mass and agility in favor of the experimental group. Conclusion: The results suggest that non-contact boxing training performed twice per week for eight weeks is an effective method for enhancing physical performance indicators in sedentary women.