Clinical trial NCT05742633: Comparative Effect of Active Release Technique Versus Self-myofascial Release in Improving Piriformis Syndrome
Official title: Comparative Effect of Active Release Technique Versus Self-myofascial Release in Improving Piriformis Syndrome. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Piriformis Syndrome
Lead sponsor: Sehat Medical Complex
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-02-24
Enrollment: 82
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Maximum age (years): 40
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The goal of this Randomized controlled trial is to examine comparative effect of active release technique versus self-myofascial release in improving piriformis syndrome. The main question it aims to answer is:

• To compare the effects of Active release technique (ART) and Self-Myofascial release (SMFR) on pain intensity, hip internal rotation and functional disability in patients with piriformis syndrome.

Participants will be a given consent form and after subjects read and sign the informed consent, they would be included in study according to eligibility criteria. 2 groups would be included in study, Active release technique will be applied on group A by the physiotherapist and self-myofascial release will be applied on group B by the patients themselves through the use of foam-rollers and massage ball to compare the results of both these techniques on reducing pain, improving range and functional disability among individuals with piriformis syndrome. We will measure outcome through different outcome measure tools.

Detailed description: Piriformis is a key internal rotator of the hip which develops muscular imbalance due to overuse and pressure. There are various disabling conditions caused due to a simple tightness of Piriformis muscle like low back pain, sciatic nerve pain through muscle hypertrophy or a nearby anomaly due to its anatomically closeness to the sciatic nerve, pain and aesthesia in hip, thigh, calf and foot are symptoms that commonly occur in Piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is defined as a peripheral neuritis of the branches of the sciatic nerve caused by an abnormal condition of the piriformis muscle (PM), such as an injured or irritated muscle.

MFR technique involves application of a low load-long duration stretch to the myofascial complex which intends to restore the optimal length, decrease pain and improve functional mobility of the muscle. A special technique within MFR is self-myofascial release (SMFR), performed by the patient independently, instead of by a therapist. This technique utilizes the patient's body mass and special tools such as massage balls or foam rollers to apply pressure and stretch the restricted soft tissue. Active Release Techniques (ART) are a soft tissue method that focuses on relieving tissue tension via the removal of fibrosis/adhesions which can develop in tissues as a result of overload due to repetitive use.

Active release technique will be applied on group A by the physiotherapist and self-myofascial release will be applied on group B by the patients themselves through the use of foam-rollers and massage ball to compare the results of both these techniques on reducing pain, improving range and functional disability among individuals with piriformis syndrome.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 20-40 years
* males and females
* Pain more than 1 month.
* Piriformis syndrome diagnosed through screening tests (FAIR test, Beatty test, Freiberg test, Sign of Pace)
* A score ≥8 on a 12-point Clinical scoring system for diagnosis of piriformis syndrome

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inflammation, malignancy, arthritis, active infection, post-partum or pregnant females and post-op patients, any deformity.
* Leg pain due to causes other than piriformis syndrome
* Any traumatic History.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Likert pain scale (change is being assessed)
timeFrame: Change from Baseline at 6 weeks
measure: Lower extremity functional scale (change is being assessed)
timeFrame: Change from Baseline at 6 weeks
measure: Range of Motion by Goniometer (change is being assessed)
timeFrame: Change from Baseline range of motion at 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Lahore
country: Pakistan
facility: Sehat Medical Complex, Lahore
state: Punjab
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Lahore
name: Ramsha Akbar
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: