Myofascial Release of the Pectoral Fascia

Healthy Clinical Trial

— MTRF  

Official title:

Myofascial Release of the Pectoral Fascia: Effect on Shoulder Posture, Muscle Length, Muscle Activity, and Movement Performance

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04944745
• Other study ID #: 50187
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 14, 2020
• Est. completion date: November 6, 2021

Study information

• Verified date: March 2022
• Source: University of Manitoba
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Neck-shoulder pain is among the most common health care problems, especially in office workers and females. Forward shoulder posture (FSP) is a common postural deviation and known risk factor for the development of neck-shoulder pain and pathology. Common approaches for reducing FSP include stretching and performing manual techniques to increase the length and extensibility of the scapular protractors, and strengthening the scapular retractors. Myofascial release (MFR) is a group of manual techniques that elongate and soften restricted fascia, however, the effects of myofascial release to the pectorals on FSP are currently unknown. The objectives of this study are to determine the impact of 4-minutes of MFR on: 1) FSP, 2) pectoral length, 3) muscle activity of the upper, middle, and lower trapezius and pectoralis major, 4) scapular retractor to protractor ratio of activity, and 4) movement performance compared to a soft-touch control. We hypothesize that MFR will: 1) decrease FSP, 2) increase pectoral length, 3) increase upper, middle, and lower trapezius activity and decrease pectorals major activity, 4) increase the scapular retractor to protractor ratio of activity, and 4) improve movement performance.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: November 6, 2021
• Est. primary completion date: November 6, 2021
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• have 1 cm of anterior deviation of the acromion process (forward shoulder posture)

• right handed

Exclusion Criteria:

• recent history (<6 months) of neck, shoulder, or upper back pain

• recent history (<6 months) of neck, shoulder, or upper back injury/pathology

• history of orthopaedic or neurological disorders

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Healthy

Intervention

Other:
• Myofascial Release
Moderate pressure manual treatment to the pectoral fascia.
• Soft-touch Control
No pressure manual treatment to the pectoral fascia.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	University of Manitoba	Winnipeg	Manitoba

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Manitoba	Centennial College

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in Forward shoulder posture after intervention	Relative- photographic analysis. Participant stand in a relaxed position and have a photo taken from their side where an online program will be used to quantify their forward shoulder posture	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Forward shoulder posture after intervention	Absolute measurements taken- double square method. Participants will stand with their back against the wall and the tool will measure the distance from the wall to their acromion process.	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Pectoral Length after intervention	Measured passive horizontal abduction of the shoulder	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Muscle Activity- Upper Trapezius after intervention	sEMG during a reaching task	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Muscle Activity- Middle Trapezius after intervention	sEMG during a reaching task	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Muscle Activity- Lower Trapezius after intervention	sEMG during a reaching task	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Muscle Activity- Pectoralis Major after intervention	sEMG during a reaching task	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Movement performance- reaction time after intervention	Participants will complete a reaching task using custom designed software (E-Prime). The reaching task is a modified Fitts' Task where the participant must reach towards one of five randomly appearing targets.	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Movement performance- movement time after intervention	Participants will complete a reaching task using custom designed software (E-Prime). The reaching task is a modified Fitts' Task where the participant must reach towards one of five randomly appearing targets.	30-minutes
Primary	Change in Movement performance- accuracy after intervention	Participants will complete a reaching task using custom designed software (E-Prime). The reaching task is a modified Fitts' Task where the participant must reach towards one of five randomly appearing targets.	30-minutes