20 Competitive Athletes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Where Randomly Assigned in a Myofascial Diaphragm Release Technique or a Sham Technique in Order to Investigate the Immediate Effects of Thoracic Mobility and Chest Expansion

NCT07150039 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Myofascial technique on BJJ
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Thoracic injuries, in high level competitive Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) athletes occupied a significant percentage of all musculoskeletal injuries in this population. Important factors for reducing injury rates are suggested to be spine and thoracic flexibility, which assist athletes in performing offensive/defensive techniques. The diaphragm, as one of the main thoracic and breathing muscles, appears to affect spinal flexibility and chest expansion. Thus, this study's objective was to investigate the immediate effects of a myofascial release technique of the diaphragm on chest mobility (expansion) and spinal range of movement (ROM) in BJJ athletes.

Conditions

Competitive Atheletes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Keywords

manual therapy; myofascial reslease technique; diaphragm technique; spinal flexibility; atheletes; diaphragm myofascial release techique

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Chest expansion measurement as assesed by tape measure

  Chest expansion was measured in centimeters with a tape measure at two thoracic levels. For the upper chest, the anatomical landmarks used were T5 spinous process, the midline of the clavicle and the third intercostal space. For the lower chest, T10 spinous process and the xiphoid process were used.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• mobility of the thoracolumbar region as assesed by the Modified-modified Schober's test (MMST)

  Before and immediately acfter the intervention

• goniometry of the thoracic flexion and extension range of movement as assessed by buble inclinometers

  Before and immediately after the intervention

• overall mobility of the posterior kinetic chain as assesed by the Fingertip-to-Floor (FTF) test

  Before and immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Myofascial release intervention arm

EXPERIMENTAL

This myofascial technique was a manual hterapy treatment technique performed in sitting. With this technique, the athlete slightly bends his/her torso in order to relax the abdominal wall and breathes calmly and deeply . The therapist is behind the athlete holding his/her lower ribs, and during exhalation the therapist directs his hands caudally. This steady but gentle 'traction' is maintained throughout the breathing cycles for 4-5 minutes.

Other: Manual therapy intervention (Chaitow's myofascial diaphragm release)

Sham intervention arm

SHAM COMPARATOR

With this technique (also performed in sitting), the therapist stood behind the athlete touching the outside of the person's lower ribs without folding his or her fingers or applying any pressure. The athlete is verbally instructed, after fully exhaling the air in their lungs to take deep breaths opening his/her ribs as much as he/she can whistle the therapist's hands follow the movement (without applying any manual pressure or traction). The procedure here also lasted for 4-5 minutes.

Other: Sham Comparison

Interventions

Manual therapy intervention (Chaitow's myofascial diaphragm release) OTHER

Participants were given a myofascial release technique from a seated position, as described by Chaitow. With this technique, the athlete slightly bends his/her torso in order to relax the abdominal wall and breathes calmly and deeply (Figure 2). The therapist is behind the athlete holding his/her lower ribs, and during exhalation the therapist directs his hands caudally. This steady but gentle 'traction' is maintained throughout the breathing cycles for 4-5 minutes.

Myofascial release intervention arm

Sham Comparison OTHER

With this sham comparator technique, the therapist stood behind the athlete (who was sitting) touching the outside of the person's lower ribs without folding his or her fingers or applying any pressure. The athlete is verbally instructed, after fully exhaling the air in their lungs to take deep breaths opening his/her ribs as much as he/she can whistle the therapist's hands follow the movement (without applying any manual pressure or traction). The procedure here also lasted for 4-5 minutes

Sham intervention arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• adult athletes up to 50 years old, with at least three years of experience in athletic BJJ competitions and participate in training sessions at least three times a week without interruption during the last year.

You may not qualify if:

• Athletes having sustained spinal or rib fractures in the last year or being suffering from chronic diseases

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Evdokia Billis: lead

Study Sites (1)

Laboratory of Clinical Physiotherapy and Research (CPR lab)

Pátrai, 26504, Greece

Location

Study Officials

• Evdokia Billis, Physiotherapy

  University of Patras

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor in Physiotherapy, Laboratory of Clinical Physiotherapy and Research, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Patras

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 19, 2025
• First Posted: September 2, 2025
• Study Start: September 5, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 15, 2024
• Study Completion: July 2, 2024
• Last Updated: September 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

GR (1)