Clinical trial NCT06950541: The Impact of Myofascial Therapy on Connective Tissue
Official title: The Impact of Myofascial Therapy on Connective Tissue
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Painful
Fascial Manipulation
Fascia
Pain
Myofascial Pain
Myofascial
Myofascial Dysfunction
Lead sponsor: Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-04-30
Enrollment: 295
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: The study involved patients who suffered from myofascial pain caused occupational or sports overloads or muscle strains caused by sports or improper preparation for physical activity. The patients had not been previously treated for this reason. The only form of therapy was self-administered over-the-counter painkillers and ointments. Due to lack of relief, patients received one of two types of treatments, myofascial therapy or deep tissue massage. Each group was divided into three subgroups, depending on the location of the symptoms: arm, forearm, calf. The patients received three treatments on alternate days. Ultrasound imaging examination was performed by a physiotherapist, qualified to assess soft tissues using an USG. Two measurements were taken, before and seven days after therapy. To standardise the assessment, ultrasound imaging protocol was used.

The thickness of the fascia was measured by ImageJ software. The aim of the study was an ultrasound imaging assessment of connective tissue of patients undergone myofascial therapy.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* undergone myofascial therapy
* undergone deep tissue massage
* patients with pain of musculoskeletal origin
* without contraindications to myofascial therapy
* without neurological diseases
* voluntary consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* resignation from the study
* lack of patient consent
* cancers
* disturbed continuity of skin tissue at the examination site
* previous surgical procedures at the study site
* large vascular changes
* inflammatory changes in the examined areas of the body
* sensory disturbances in the examined body areas
* resignation from therapy
* changing the type of therapy

Primary outcomes:
measure: The thickness of the deep and superficial fascia.
timeFrame: From enrollment to the 7 days after last therapy.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Pain level
timeFrame: From enrollment to the 7 days after last therapy.
Other outcomes:
measure: Body weight
timeFrame: Once - upon enrollment
Locations:
city: Warsaw
country: Poland
facility: Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw
Study officials:
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