ACUTE EFFECT OF DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING ON POSTOPERATIVE UPPER TRAPEZIUS PAIN

NCT07634588 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: TR-TRAP-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of diaphragmatic breathing exercises added to soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and pressure pain threshold in operating room nurses experiencing upper trapezius pain after surgery-related work activities. Participants will be operating room nurses working in a hospital operating theater who report upper trapezius pain and tenderness within 30 minutes after completing a surgical procedure. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving soft tissue mobilization, percussive therapy, and diaphragmatic breathing exercises, or a control group receiving soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy alone. Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and mechanical pain sensitivity using Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measurements. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after a single treatment session. The study aims to determine whether the addition of diaphragmatic breathing exercises provides additional benefits in reducing pain and improving function in the acute postoperative working period of operating room nurses.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Myofascial Pain Syndrome; Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Keywords

Upper Trapezius Pain; Diaphragmatic Breathing; Soft Tissue Mobilization; Percussive Therapy; Operating Room Nurses; Pressure Pain Threshold; Neck Disability Index; Musculoskeletal Pain; Acute Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Visual Analog Scale ranges from 0 to 10 points, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain severity. Change from pre-intervention to immediately post-intervention will be analyzed.

  Immediately before intervention and immediately after intervention (single session)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Neck Disability Index

  Immediately before intervention and immediately after intervention (single session)

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive 5 minutes of soft tissue mobilization, 5 minutes of percussive therapy, and 5 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing exercises in a single treatment session.

Behavioral: Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise; Other: Soft Tissue Mobilization; Device: Percussive Therapy

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive 5 minutes of soft tissue mobilization and 5 minutes of percussive therapy in a single treatment session.

Other: Soft Tissue Mobilization; Device: Percussive Therapy

Interventions

Soft Tissue Mobilization OTHER

Soft tissue mobilization techniques will be applied to the upper trapezius muscle for 5 minutes.

Control Group; Experimental Group

Percussive Therapy DEVICE

Percussive therapy will be applied to the upper trapezius muscle for 5 minutes using a massage device.

Control Group; Experimental Group

Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform diaphragmatic breathing exercises for 5 minutes in a seated position under physiotherapist supervision.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 22 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged between 22 and 55 years.
• Operating room nurse actively working in the hospital operating theater.
• Reporting upper trapezius pain and tenderness within 30 minutes after completion of a surgical procedure.
• Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• History of trauma, surgery, or chronic disease affecting the neck or shoulder region.
• Regular participation in breathing exercise programs.
• Psychiatric disorders requiring anxiolytic or antidepressant medication.
• Pregnancy.
• Skin disease, infection, or open wound in the treatment area.
• Severe cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled hypertension.
• Contraindications to manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, percussive therapy, or breathing exercises.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Aydın University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Aydin University

Istanbul, Eyalet/Yerleşke, 34520, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Musculoskeletal Pain; Acute Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Fatma Çavdarcı

CONTACT

+905374590918; cvdrcftm@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist, PhD Student in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 2, 2026
• First Posted: June 9, 2026
• Study Start: June 5, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)