A comparison of skin temperature and EMG training for primary dysmenorrhea

Eleven female volunteers completed a 6-month treatment program consisting of a 2-month baseline phase, 2 months of biofeedback training ( number of sessions=12.9), and 2 months of follow-up data collection. Subjects were assigned to one of two treatment groups: skin temperature training or EMG training of the frontalis muscle. Self-report data were gathered by means of the Symptom Severity Scale. Results, which were analyzed according to a 2×3 (treatment×phase) split-plot factorial design, indicate a highly significant overall treatment effect (F=19.32,p<.001). There was no significant difference between treatments (F=.47) and no significant interaction effect (F=1.74).