Clinical trial NCT04944745: Myofascial Release of the Pectoral Fascia
Official title: Myofascial Release of the Pectoral Fascia: Effect on Shoulder Posture, Muscle Length, Muscle Activity, and Movement Performance
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy
Lead sponsor: University of Manitoba
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Centennial College
First posted: 2021-06-30
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Single blind between subjects repeated measures crossover design
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief 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.


Eligibility criteria: 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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Forward shoulder posture after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Forward shoulder posture after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Pectoral Length after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Muscle Activity- Upper Trapezius after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Muscle Activity- Middle Trapezius after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Muscle Activity- Lower Trapezius after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Muscle Activity- Pectoralis Major after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Movement performance- reaction time after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Movement performance- movement time after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
measure: Change in Movement performance- accuracy after intervention
timeFrame: 30-minutes
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Winnipeg
country: Canada
facility: University of Manitoba
state: Manitoba
Study officials:
References: