Effects of somatothermal farinfrared ray on primary dysmenorrhea: a pilot study

Ke Y et al, 2012 [parallel-arm randomized sham-controlled and double-blinded design; n = 51; female; from 19 to 35 years old] aimed to assess the beneficial effects of using a far-infrared (FIR) belt on the management of patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Patients wore a belt impregnated or not with FIR ceramic powders around the abdominal region for 30 minutes. After removing the belt, post treatment measurements of abdominal temperatures and blood flows were performed. Results indicated that there was an increased abdominal temperature of 0.6°C and a 3.27% increase in abdominal blood flow in the FIR group (wearing FIR belt) compared to those in the control group (wearing sham belt). Verbal rating scale and numeric rating scale scores in the FIR group were both lower than those in the control group. Compared to the blank group (wearing no belt), the average dysmenorrhea pain duration of the FIR group was significantly reduced from 2.5 to 1.8 days, but there was no significant difference in the control group. Authors concluded that the somatothermal FIR belt was effective as a novel alternative therapy for relief of primary dysmenorrhea. It provided better therapeutic effects in terms of pain relief as well as greater elevation of skin temperature and promotion of blood circulation compared with those observed in patients wearing the sham belt.