Prevalence of pelvic crossed syndrome and its impact on physical activity of female undergraduates with primary dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Background: Pelvic Crossed Syndrome (PCS) is a musculoskeletal imbalance that may influence menstrual disorders like primary dysmenorrhea, potentially affecting physical activity in young females. This study aims to analyse the relationship between them and their impact on levels of physical activity.

Objective: To quantify the prevalence of Pelvic Crossed Syndrome (PCS) and to evaluate its association with, and impact on, physical activity among female undergraduate students with primary dysmenorrhea.

Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out at the University of Lahore. 160 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Participants were assessed through a pre-test questionnaire. The presence of PCS was determined according to Pelvic Dysfunction Questionnaire (PDQ) criteria that were content-validated by expert physiotherapists. SPSS version 27 was used. An independent samples t-test was used to compare age, BMI, and physical activity between those with and without PCS, while a one-way ANOVA assessed associations between dysmenorrhea severity and these variables. Binary logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association of PCS with physical activity levels.

Results: PCS was found in 38.7% of participants with primary dysmenorrhea. Among them, 19% had mild, 23% moderate, and 62% severe dysmenorrhea. Regarding activity levels, 14.4% were highly active, 35% moderately active, 30.6% had low activity, and 20% were inactive. PCS was significantly associated with both lower physical activity (P = 0.026) and higher BMI (P = 0.038). Additionally, dysmenorrhea severity was significantly related to BMI (P = 0.01) and activity levels (P = 0.03).

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a significant association between Pelvic Crossed Syndrome and both the severity of dysmenorrhea and reduced physical activity levels. These coexisting conditions may exacerbate each other, reinforcing the need for multidisciplinary approaches, including postural correction and lifestyle interventions in managing menstrual pain.

Abbreviations: IPAQ-SF: International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form, PCS: Pelvic Crossed Syndrome, PD: Primary dysmenorrhea, PDQ: Pelvic Dysfunction Questionnaire, WaLIDD: Working ability, Location, Intensity, Days of pain, and Dysmenorrhea

Keywords: Pelvic Crossed Syndrome, Primary Dysmenorrhea, Physical Activity

Citation: Murrium K, Sukhera S, Zaman T, Faisal S, Akbar R, Tauqeer S. Prevalence of pelvic crossed syndrome and its impact on physical activity of female undergraduates with primary dysmenorrhea. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2025;29(8):993-1000. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v29i8.3031

Received: July 29, 2025; Revised: October 04, 2025; Accepted: October 05, 2025