Effects of Myofascial Release on Cardiac Patients After Median Sternotomy

Brief summary (registry, in English)

After deciding to join this study and signing the informed consent form, participants will undergo the following interventions: All participants will receive a preoperative assessment (Tp) before surgery. Within five days after transferring from the ICU to the general ward, participants will receive a baseline assessment (T0). After completing seven sessions of myofascial release (MFR), a post-intervention assessment (T1) will be conducted. Assessments include maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), pulmonary function tests, mid- and lower-thoracic mobility, surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure diaphragmatic and sternocleidomastoid muscle activity, and pain scores. Pulmonary function tests include forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive myofascial release therapy in addition to routine physical therapy in the general ward. Routine therapy includes daily physical therapy sessions such as out-of-bed activities, incentive spirometry training (Triflow), and functional exercises. The MFR intervention consists of three steps: The therapist places both hands on the thoracic outlet, with the index and middle fingers above the clavicle. One hand is placed on the anterior chest and the other hand parallel on the participant's back. Both hands are placed on the anterolateral region of the thoracoabdominal diaphragm. During each step, participants are instructed to take 10 slow, deep breaths and direct airflow toward the therapist's hands. Each session lasts approximately 15 minutes, once daily, for seven sessions. The control group will receive only routine physical therapy (out-of-bed activities, incentive spirometry, and functional exercises) without additional myofascial release therapy.

What you commit to

• Study type: Interventional
• Planned participants: 50
• From 25 Mar 2026 to the primary completion date, May 2027
• 1 site in 1 country
• Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Who the study is looking for

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

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