Effect of Resisted Deep Breathing and Myofascial Release in Postmastectomy

NCT07576270 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR & AHS/25/0507
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to determine the combined effect of resisted deep breathing and Myofascial release on pain, respiratory efficiency, chest mobility and lymph edema in Postmastectomy.

Conditions

Post Mastectomy Lymphedema

Keywords

Chest; Lymphedema; Post mastectomy; Myofasical release; Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Spirometer

  The evaluation of pulmonary function will be performed using conventional spirometry with a Spirobank USB spirometer (Medical International Research, Rome, Italy). The directly measured parameters will include lung volumes, capacities, and flow rates, assessed through the procedures of slow vital capacity (SVC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), performed in this order

  12th week

• Circumferential limb measurements

  In the proposed study, upper limb volume will be measured using circumference measurements. The anatomical positions of the arm will be selected at 7 cm intervals, including the wrist (the slenderest part), 7 cm above the wrist (lower arm), 7 cm below the elbow (lower arm), at the elbow, 7 cm above the elbow (upper arm), and at the same level as the axilla (upper arm). To minimize measurement error, all measurements will be taken at a constant pressure, with participants seated in a position where the hips and knees are bent at 90 degrees.

  12th week

• Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS)

  Subjective pain will be measured using the Numerical pain Rating Scale (NPRS), which is the simplest and most commonly used pain assessment tool. Patients will be asked to mark a point on a line ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain) to indicate their pain intensity.

  12th week

• Chest Mobility

  Chest circumference at maximal voluntary inspiration (insp) and maximal voluntary expiration (expir), as well as chest expansion (CE) calculated as the difference between insp and expir will be measured in a sitting position using a tape marked in 0.1 cm increments at the level of the fourth intercostal space. Participants will be instructed about the procedure and asked to exhale fully and hold for expir, and inhale deeply and hold for insp. The highest insp and lowest expir values from three attempts will be recorded, and their difference will represent chest expansion

  12th week

Study Arms (2)

Resisted Deep Breathing & Myofascial release

EXPERIMENTAL

Myofascial release is a hands-on therapy aimed at relieving pain and tightness in the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles, by targeting trigger points and stiff areas and Resisted Deep Breathing (RDB) is a physiotherapy breathing technique used to improve respiratory muscle strength, lung expansion, and ventilation efficiency

Other: Resisted Deep Breathing; Other: Myofascial release

Myofascial release

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Myofascial release is a hands-on therapy aimed at relieving pain and tightness in the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles, by targeting trigger points and stiff areas

Other: Myofascial release

Interventions

Resisted Deep Breathing OTHER

The total duration of treatment will be 12 weeks and there will be 2 sessions each week

Resisted Deep Breathing & Myofascial release

Myofascial release OTHER

The total duration of treatment will be 12 weeks and there will be 2 sessions each week

Myofascial release; Resisted Deep Breathing & Myofascial release

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years - 64 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Postmastectomy
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Radiation therapy and chemotherapy was finished at least three months
• months after mastectomy for breast cancer being diagnosed without lymphedema or with stage 1 lymphedema
• Complete unilateral Mastectomy
• pain and having one or more of the following symptoms: heaviness, numbness, oppression, stiffness, alterations in the function, or mobility of the limited shoulder range of motion.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of shoulder pathologies for which surgical indications exist
• Musculoskeletal injury in adjacent areas (shoulder or neck etc.)
• bilateral surgery for the treatment of breast cancer
• Bilateral lymphadenectomy
• Open wounds on upper limbs
• Circulatory disorders
• History of shoulder surgery for reasons other than breast cancer.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Riphah medical center

Lahore, Punjab Province, 6400, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• Vijayakumar C, Jain A, Kalaranjani M, Kumbhar US, Kumar AN, Sreenath GJSQUMJ. Effectiveness of Myofascial Release Compared to Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Reducing Post-Treatment Shoulder Pain and Stiffness Among Patients Who Underwent Breast Cancer Surgery and Adjuvant Radiotherapy: Randomised controlled trial. 2025;25(1):328-35.

  BACKGROUND

• Sun R, Liao Y. The impact of combined Gua Sha and myofascial release techniques on upper limb dysfunction in patients with breast cancer and axillary web syndrome: a prospective case series study. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2025;33(4):270

  BACKGROUND

• Lara-Palomo IC, Castro-Sánchez AM, Córdoba-Peláez MM, Albornoz-Cabello M, Ortiz-Comino LJIJoER, Health P. Effect of myofascial therapy on pain and functionality of the upper extremities in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2021;18(9):4420.

  BACKGROUND

• Yena K, Eun YP, Haneul LJEJop, Medicine r. The effect of myofascial release in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema: a cross-over randomized controlled trial. 2023;59(1):85.

  BACKGROUND

• AMANY RAW, FATMA SA, NANCY HA, ASHRAF EEJTMJoCU. Effect of Resisted Deep Breathing on Post Mastectomy Lymphedema. 2024;91(12):1443-8.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Cancer Lymphedema; Lymphedema; Pain

Interventions

Myofascial Release Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Lymphatic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Massage; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• hina gul, PhD*

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

imran amjad

CONTACT

03324390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

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: May 4, 2026
• First Posted: May 8, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)