Effect of Direct Myofascial Release Technique Combined With Exercise on Round Ligament Pain During Pregnancy

NCT07715422 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FMBSUREC/02122025/Awad
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Study's objective is to explore effect of combining direct myofascial release technique with therapeutic exercises on decreasing round ligament pain during pregnancy.The main question to be answered by this study: Does a myofascial release technique combined with exercise have effect on round ligament pain during pregnancy? Researchers will compare 2 groups of 70 participants of multi para pregnant women at 24 weeks' of gestation diagnosed with round ligament pain . Group A (study group) included participants who joined a six-week physiotherapy plan of care in the form of sessions composed of direct myofascial release technique combined with specific therapeutic exercise as well as put on a belly band and received advice. While, group B involved control participants who followed the routine care and advice as well as wearing the same belly band as group A participants.

Conditions

Pregnancy Complications

Keywords

Round ligament - pain- pregnancy- myofascial release- exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pelvic Inclination Angle

  Pelvic inclination or pelvic tilting angle was measured in sagittal plane between a horizontal line and a line bifurcating the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine and Posterior Superior Iliac Spine for all participants by using Palpation Meter Inclinometer at the start and the end of the study.

  4 months

Study Arms (2)

No Intervention: Placebo Group routine belly band as well as advice

NO INTERVENTION

Intervention group participants joined a six-week physiotherapy plan of care in the form of session

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Manual therapy technique named myofascial release combined with therapeutic exercises

Interventions

Manual therapy technique named myofascial release combined with therapeutic exercises OTHER

Round ligament release technique was conducted first from left side lying position followed by right side lying position with a pillow between knees and another pillow supported head, determining round ligament as a fibromuscular cordlike structure in lower abdomen particularly at the area of the Inguinal Canal between Anterior Superior Iliac Spine and 2-3 cm laterally from Symphysis Pubis.12 Then, therapist applied very gentle sustained pressure with minor traction to restricted part of round ligament for 90 to 120 seconds according to patient's tolerance followed by release for 3 minutes.As well as, group of therapeutic exercises.

Intervention group participants joined a six-week physiotherapy plan of care in the form of session

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 35 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• multipara pregnant women at 24 weeks' of gestation diagnosed with round ligament pain were included. Their ages ranged from 25-35 years and their body mass index (BMI) did not exceed 30 kg/m2.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants were excluded from the study if round ligament pain was accompanied by cramping, vaginal bleeding, fever, nausea, vomiting, or any changes in vaginal discharge as well as patients diagnosed with preterm labor, placental abruption, urinary tract infections, appendicitis, cardiac diseases, chronic physical or mental disorders, or failed to complete an informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beni-Suef University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Beni-Suef University

Banī Suwayf, Beni Suweif Governorate, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pregnancy Complications

Interventions

Exercise Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Masking Details: Double (participants and care provider)
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor of physical therapy for woman's health- Faculty of physical therapy - Beni-Suef University- Beni-Suef-Egypt

Model Details: A 6 months comparative randomized clinical trial comparing 2 groups of 70 women diagnosed with round ligament pain during pregnancy.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 15, 2026
• First Posted: July 20, 2026
• Study Start: December 10, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 10, 2026
• Study Completion: May 15, 2026
• Last Updated: July 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

EG (1)