Introduction:
Dysmenorrhoea is a common gynaecological problem among teenage and young adult females. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of kinesiotaping for treating menstrual pain.

Methods:
The subjects were 44 women with complaints of pain during menstruation. The participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups: group 1 (n = 16), in which a kinesio tape was applied to the abdominal area; group 2 (n = 14), in which an identically looking inelastic tape was applied; and group 3 (n = 14), in which no intervention occurred. The degree of menstrual discomfort was assessed by a visual analogue scale, modified Laitinen questionnaire, and Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory.

Results:
In all groups, within 24 hours after tape application, pain intensity diminished by approximately 50%. In groups 1 and 2, the reduction of pain occurred 2–4 hours after the application of the tapes. In contrast, in group 3, an initial increase of pain intensity was observed, and pain decrease began after 11 hours. However, the differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance. The values obtained with the Laitinen pain questionnaire revealed that kinesiotaping significantly reduced the intensity (p = 0.004) and incidence (p = 0.006) of menstrual pain between the first and fifth day.

Conclusions:
Painful menstruation severely limits everyday functioning. The application of a kinesio tape to the abdominal area may reduce the severity of pain in women with complaints referring to menstruation.