Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching and Scapular Retraction in Asthma Patients

NCT07508267 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Mehwish Atta
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Patients with asthma frequently experience upper back stiffness and rounded shoulders and tightness in the thoracic region. Rib cage stiffness occurs due to poor posture and muscle tightness, which leads to decreased chest expansion and increased use of accessory muscles during breathing. Additionally, rounded shoulders can hinder proper opening of the chest, preventing the lungs from expanding properly. Thoracic spine rotation stretching targets the thoracic paraspinal muscles, erector spinae, and intercostal muscles. This exercise helps improve thoracic mobility, increases chest expansion and pulmonary function, and reduces dyspnea. The other exercise is Scapular Retraction, which targets the rhomboids, trapezius, and posterior deltoids that help in chest opening and lead to chest expansion and allow lungs to expand more fully during inhalation. Together, these exercises improve chest expansion and pulmonary function, reduce dyspnea, and improve posture.

Conditions

Asthma Chronic

Keywords

Asthma, Chest Expansion, Dyspnea, Pulmonary Function, Scapular Retraction, Thoracic Spine Rotation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Modified borg scale

  Dyspnea at rest was assessed using the modified Borg scale. It is a well-validated scoring system using a 0-to-10-point scale.The intensity of dyspnea is most often assessed according to a symptom scale, with the modified Borg scale, which measures dyspnea on a scale of 0-10 arbitrary units, being used most frequently.It is a validated dyspnea scale ranging from 0 ("no shortness of breath") to 10 ("worst shortness of breath") points.

  8 Weeks

• Digital spirometer:

  A digital spirometer will be used to measure pulmonary function tests including FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC.The normal values of FEV1/FVC ratio are \>0.70 and FVC, FEV1 are \>80% or predicted age.

  8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Tape measure

  8 Weeks

Other Outcomes (1)

• Goniometer

  8 Weeks

Study Arms (2)

Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will undergo thoracic spine rotation stretching exercises to assess their effects on pulmonary function, chest expansion, and dyspnea and also improve thoracic rotation . The intervention will be provided 3 sessions per week for a duration of 8 weeks in individuals with chronic asthma.

Other: Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching

Scapular retraction Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform Scapular Retraction exercises to evaluate their effects on pulmonary function, chest expansion, and dyspnea. The intervention will be provided three sessions per week for a duration of eight weeks in individuals with chronic asthma.

Other: Scapular retraction

Interventions

Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching OTHER

Thoracic spine rotation stretching consists of controlled rotational movements of the thoracic spine performed to improve thoracic mobility. The exercises are administered under supervision, three sessions per week for eight weeks, using standardized repetitions within a comfortable range of motion.

Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching Group

Scapular retraction OTHER

Scapular retraction exercises involve active scapular retraction movements performed to improve shoulder and upper thoracic mobility. The intervention is administered under supervision, three sessions per week for eight weeks in individuals with chronic asthma.

Scapular retraction Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age between (18 to 50).
• Confirmed diagnosis of asthma based on clinical guidelines.
• Nonsmoker.
• Chronic asthma.
• Thoracic spine abnormality

You may not qualify if:

• Acute asthma
• Recent exacerbations.
• History of sever cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, infectious diseases.
• Any neurological condition.
• Cognitive impairment.
• Any recent injury of spine, shoulder, or rib cage that limit mobility or cause pain.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sehat medical complex hanjerwal

Lahore, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Asthma; Dyspnea

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Riffat Malik

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2026
• First Posted: April 2, 2026
• Study Start: April 17, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 17, 2025
• Study Completion: December 17, 2025
• Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)