Acute and Long-Term Effects of Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy on Respiratory Function in Healthy Adults

NCT07822139 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: KBU-EMGT-RESP-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will investigate the immediate and longer-term effects of integrated myofascial release therapy on breathing-related outcomes in healthy adults. Participants will receive integrated myofascial release therapy twice a week for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 treatment sessions. Assessments will be performed before treatment, immediately after the first treatment session, at the end of the 6-week treatment period, and 1 month and 3 months after treatment. The study will evaluate pulmonary function, cough strength, and chest mobility. The aim is to determine both the immediate response to a single treatment session and whether repeated treatment produces effects that are maintained during follow-up.

Conditions

Respiratory Function

Keywords

Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy; Myofascial Release; Manual Therapy; Pulmonary Function; Thoracic Mobility; Chest Expansion; Peak Cough Flow; Healthy Adults

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Xiphoid-Level Chest Expansion

  Chest expansion will be measured at the xiphoid/epigastric level using a non-elastic measuring tape. The difference between chest circumference at maximal inspiration and maximal expiration will be calculated in centimeters. Measurements will be repeated using the same anatomical landmarks and standardized participant position across assessment time points.

  Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

  Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).

• Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)

  Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).

• Change in FEV1/FVC Ratio

  Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).

• Change in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)

  Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).

• Change in Peak Cough Flow (PCF)

  Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).

Study Arms (1)

Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will receive integrated myofascial release therapy twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 20-30 minutes. The intervention will include single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder myofascial release, and pectoral-anterior chest cross-hand release techniques applied in a standardized sequence.

Other: Other

Interventions

Other OTHER

Integrated myofascial release therapy will be administered twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 20-30 minutes. The intervention will include single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder myofascial release, and pectoral-anterior chest cross-hand release techniques. Techniques will be applied using slow, low-intensity, pain-free manual contact while following tissue resistance and release. The sequence and target regions will be standardized across sessions.

Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or older.
• Ability to communicate in Turkish.
• Voluntary agreement to participate in the study.
• Ability to attend the scheduled assessment and treatment sessions regularly.

You may not qualify if:

• Asthma, clinically significant dyspnea, or chronic pulmonary disease.
• Influenza, COVID-19, or another acute respiratory tract infection within the previous 6 weeks that may affect respiratory function.
• Recent surgery involving the neck, shoulder, or thoracic region.
• History of rib fracture or an acute musculoskeletal condition that would make manual therapy inappropriate.
• Serious cardiovascular, neurological, or systemic disease that could prevent safe participation in the assessments.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karabuk University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Karabuk University

Karabük, Karabük Province, 78050, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Bohunicky S, Rutherford L, Harrison KL, Malone Q, Glazebrook CM, Scribbans TD. Immediate effects of myofascial release to the pectoral fascia on posture, range of motion, and muscle excitation: a crossover randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2024 Oct;32(5):495-505. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2024.2316414. Epub 2024 Feb 16.

  PMID: 38363078 BACKGROUND

• Graham BL, Steenbruggen I, Miller MR, Barjaktarevic IZ, Cooper BG, Hall GL, Hallstrand TS, Kaminsky DA, McCarthy K, McCormack MC, Oropez CE, Rosenfeld M, Stanojevic S, Swanney MP, Thompson BR. Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Oct 15;200(8):e70-e88. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201908-1590ST.

  PMID: 31613151 BACKGROUND

• Marizeiro DF, Florencio ACL, Nunes ACL, Campos NG, Lima POP. Immediate effects of diaphragmatic myofascial release on the physical and functional outcomes in sedentary women: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Oct;22(4):924-929. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.10.008. Epub 2017 Oct 25.

  PMID: 30368336 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Respiratory Aspiration

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Ece Acar, Assist Prof

CONTACT

05457925035; acarkosanece@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assist Prof

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 10, 2026
• First Posted: September 16, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): October 16, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 12, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 29, 2027
• Last Updated: September 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: Data will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the main study results and for 5 years thereafter.
• Access Criteria: Data may be made available to qualified researchers who submit a methodologically sound proposal with a clearly defined scientific purpose. Requests will be reviewed by the study investigators. Approved requestors may be required to sign a data use agreement before access is granted.

Locations

TU (1)