The Effects of Myofascial Release Technique
Condition: Rotator Cuff Injuries
MeSH terms: Rotator Cuff Injuries
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study was planned to investigate the long-term effects of myofascial release technique
      on proprioception, pain severity, shoulder range of motion, functional level, flexibility,
      and muscle strength in patients with rotator cuff injury. The study included 29 individuals
      with partial rotator cuff injury who were randomly divided into two groups. The control group
      received a classical physiotherapy program including transcutaneous electrical nerve
      stimulation, hot pack and exercise, while the treatment group received the same classic
      physiotherapy program along with the myofascial release technique. All treatments were
      planned for 4 weeks and a total of 10 sessions. Proprioception, pain severity, shoulder range
      of motion, functional level, flexibility and muscle strength were assessed before and after
      the treatment.
    

Detailed description: 
      Rotator cuff injury is the most common cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction in adults. It
      may cause muscle weakness, changes in glenohumeral kinematics, and instability in the
      shoulder internal and external rotator muscle groups and abductors. Patients may present a
      variety of symptoms, ranging from painless to severe shoulder pain and from normal function
      to severe dysfunction. It causes a decrease in the level of function in individuals,
      limitation in daily living activities, decreased quality of life and sleep problems. Various
      psychological factors, such as emotional or mental collapse and fear-avoidance behaviors,
      have been found to be associated with severe pain and disability in these patients. In
      response to emotional or physical injuries and traumas, fascia shortens, thickens, and
      stiffens. This situation causes pain and dysfunction. Conservative treatment is primarily
      preferred in the treatment of rotator cuff injury. In cases where there is no response to
      conservative treatment, surgery is used. Conservative treatment includes patient education,
      electrophysical agents, and exercise program. The exercise program includes scapular
      stabilization exercises, rotator cuff and shoulder area muscle strengthening exercises, range
      of motion exercises and stretching exercises. Additionally, the use of manual therapy
      techniques increases the effect of the treatment. Myofascial release technique, one of the
      manual therapy techniques, is a widely used therapy that involves low load and long-term
      mechanical forces to manipulate the myofascial complex, aiming to restore optimal length,
      reduce pain and improve function. With the myofascial release technique, proprioception is
      also increased. Considering the possible changes in the fascia, it is thought that the
      myofascial release technique may be useful in the conservative treatment program of
      individuals with rotator cuff injury. When the literature is examined, there is no study
      examining the effect of myofascial release technique on individuals with rotator cuff injury.
      The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term effects of myofascial release technique
      on proprioception, pain severity, shoulder range of motion, functional level, flexibility,
      and muscle strength in patients with rotator cuff injury.
    

Intervention name(s): classic physiotherapy program; Myofascial release
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): For individuals of control group, a hot pack was applied to the shoulder area for 15 minutes, while the individuals were in the sitting position. The conventional mode of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was used. Frequency was adjusted in the range of 50-100 Hz, and the amplitude intensity was adjusted between 10-30 milliampere with the intensity of mild tingling without causing any excessive discomfort or contractions. Electrodes were placed at the anterior, posterior, superior, and inferior of the shoulder region. In the exercise program of the patients, joint range of motion exercises, stretching, scapular stabilization, rotator cuff, and shoulder muscle strengthening exercises were given.; myofascial release technique was applied to the patients in the treatment group besides the control group program. The technique was applied to the lateral neck and shoulder, pectoral region, scapulothoracic area, and arm regions for 5 minutes for optimum benefit.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The control group received a classical physiotherapy program including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hot pack and exercise, while the treatment group received the same classic physiotherapy program along with the myofascial release technique. All treatments were planned for 4 weeks and a total of 10 sessions.
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Myofascial Release Therapy; Proprioception; Shoulder Pain; Rotator Cuff Lesions