Fascial Mobilization Along the Vagus Nerve and Its Effects on Acute Physiological Parameters in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Mardin Artuklu University
- Where
- Mardin, TürkiyeSee the site
- Trial code
- Status
- Enrolling by invitation
- People taking part
- 100 people, planned
- Started
- 1 Aug 2025
- Planned end
- 12 Dec 2025
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Vagus Nerve Fascial Mobilization
- Record updated
- 11 September 2025
Who can take part
- Age
- 18 years to 65 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 2 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Patients diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) confirmed by polysomnography (PSG) according to international criteria (AASM - American Academy of Sleep Medicine) with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI ≥15/hour); Patients aged between 18 and 65 years; Patients able to comply with PSG procedures and the manual mobilization protocol; Patients with stable cardiac and respiratory status; Patients without acute exacerbations or decompensated disease; Patients who have not received CPAP, BiPAP, oral appliance therapy, or surgical treatment previously, or who discontinued such treatments at least 3 months prior to enrollment; Patients not taking medications that directly affect sleep patterns or autonomic nervous system function (e.g., sedatives, hypnotics, anticholinergics); Patients who provide written informed consent to participate in the study
Who cannot take part
- Patients with uncontrolled hypertension; Patients with advanced heart failure, severe arrhythmia, or asthma; Patients with coronary artery disease; Patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease; Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Patients with interstitial lung disease; Patients with epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, or dementia; Patients with major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder; Patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m²; Patients with a history of major surgery in the cervical region (e.g., thyroidectomy, cervical disc surgery) or vagus nerve injury; Patients with acute infection, skin lesions, or inflammatory disease in the neck/thoracic region; Patients currently using CPAP, BiPAP, or oral appliances; Patients with narcolepsy, insomnia, or parasomnia; Patients with alcohol use or taking sedative/hypnotic medications; Patients with night-shift work schedules or irregular sleep patterns; Pregnant or breastfeeding women; Patients with cognitive impairment preventing adherence to the study protocol; Patients with severe musculoskeletal limitations (e.g., in the cervical/thoracic region) that would prevent mobilization
Check if you might fit
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Where in Türkiye
- Mardin Artuklu UniversityMardin, TürkiyeNo longer taking part
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
This randomized controlled trial was designed to investigate the effects of fascial mobilization along the course of the vagus nerve on acute physiological parameters in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Patients diagnosed with moderate to severe OSAS by polysomnography at Mardin Training and Research Hospital Sleep Laboratory will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to mobilization or control groups. In the mobilization group, 16 minutes of manual fascial mobilization will be applied to fascial regions associated with the vagus nerve, starting from the occipitomastoid suture and extending through the cervical, thoracic, and abdominal regions. The control group will rest in the supine position for the same duration. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) will be recorded before and after the intervention. This study is expected to demonstrate the effectiveness of fascial mobilization as a non-invasive, low-cost, and innovative approach in the treatment of OSAS, contributing to clinical practice.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Vagus Nerve Fascial MobilizationTreatment being tested
Participants in this group will receive manual fascial mobilization along anatomical regions associated with the vagus nerve, including the occipitomastoid suture, anterior and posterior cervical regions, hyoid, sternum, diaphragm, Trigonum Labbe, and radix mesenteri. Mobilization will be applied for a total of 16 minutes using gentle manual pressure and stretching techniques by a physiotherapist. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation will be measured before and after the intervention.
- Sham Control GroupSham treatment, for comparison
Participants in this group will receive a sham procedure. The physiotherapist will place hands on the same anatomical regions for 16 minutes without applying mobilization or therapeutic pressure. No active fascial mobilization will be performed. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation will be recorded before and after the sham procedure.
Treatment: Vagus Nerve Fascial Mobilization
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- The Effect of Fascial Mobilization Along the Course of the Vagus Nerve on Acute Physiological Parameters in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
- Fit questions
- Built from NCT07169058, who can take part
- Record updated
- 11 September 2025