Thoracic KyphosisNCT06656143
Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release Techinque on Chest Expansion and Heart Rate in Patients Having Thoracic Kyphosis
A study testing Traditional Physical therapy and Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release in people with Thoracic Kyphosis, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The air of this RCT is to evaluate the effects Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release technique on chest expansion and heart rate in patients with thoracic kyphosis Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Thoracic Kyphosis
- What is being tested?
- Traditional Physical therapy and Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 44 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 16 Oct 2024to 15 Dec 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Both male and females
- age 18-40 years
- patients who consented to the purposes of this study and participated voluntarily.
- patients with thoracic kyphosis ≥40
Who cannot join
- Participant failing to fall in this category would be excluded of the study.
- Vertebrobasilar insufficiency, rib fracture, rib dislocation and/or signs of serious pathology (e.g., malignancy, inflammatory disorder, infection);
- History of cervical spine surgery in previous 12 months
- Signs of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy; and vascular syndromes such as basilar insufficiency.
- Patients with diagnosed any respiratory condition.
- Patient diagnosed with hypertension or taking any medication
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Riphah International University
Islamabad, Federal Capital, 45750
About this study
Official title: Effects of Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release on Chest Expansion and Heart Rate in Patients With Thoracic Kyphosis
The air of this RCT is to evaluate the effects Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release technique on chest expansion and heart rate in patients with thoracic kyphosis
Read the detailed description
This study focus on diaphragmatic release technique along with conventional therapy is more effective in improving chest expansion and with im-proved chest expansion, heart rate and blood pressure is also improved because tho-racic kyphosis impacts the way of heart and lung function creating stress response and increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Lung capacity is also reduced in indi-viduals with thoracic kyphosis. Postural alterations of thoracic spine result in im-paired chest expansion and length tension curve of diaphragm.
- Conditions
- Thoracic Kyphosis
- Being tested
- Traditional Physical therapy, Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Traditional Physical therapyOther
The exercise program included the strengthening of the deep cervical flexor and shoulder retractor muscles and also stretching of the pectoralis and cervical extensor muscles.
(3 sets of 12 repetitions) Strengthening Deep Cervical Flexors Lying chin tuck Lying chin tuck with head lift. Strengthening Shoulder Retractors Standing shoulder pull back with elastic Shoulder pull back with weight Stretch Cervical Extensors Chin drop Stretch Pectoralis Muscle Bilateral Pectoral stretch
Diaphragmatic Myofascial ReleaseOther
To release the diaphragm, the patient was positioned in the supine position. The therapist stood at the head of the patient. The therapist made manual contact bilaterally under the costal cartilages of the lower ribs (7th to 10th) with hypothenar regions of the hands and last three fingers. During the patient's inspiration, the therapist was gently pulling the points of hands contacts toward the head and slightly laterally, while elevating the ribs simultaneously. During exhalation, the therapist deepened hand contacts towards the inner costal margins Exercise Program (3 sets of 12 reps) Strengthening deep cervical flexors Strengthening shoulder retractors Stretching Cervical Extensors Stretching Pectoralis Muscle
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Diaphragmatic Myofascial release | Experimental | Myofascial release of the diaphragm is an intervention intended to indirectly stretch the diaphragm muscle fibers to reduce muscle tension, normalize fiber length, and promote the efficiency of muscle contraction. Receives: Other: Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release |
| Traditional Physical therapy | Active comparator | Strengthening Deep Cervical Flexors Strengthening Shoulder Retractors Stretch Cervical Extensors Stretch Pectoralis Muscle Receives: Other: Traditional Physical therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Chest Expansion
Diaphragm is facially and mechanically attached to thoracic spine, so releasing tension in diaphragmatic muscles will improve biomechanics, resulting in greater chest expansion and improving heart rate.
Measured: 3rd week
Heart Rate
Diaphragm a thin, flat muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavity, is the primary muscle of respiration, which plays significant role in breathing and physiological regulation. Hyper kyphosis negatively affects chest expansion and heartrate by causing limited mobility in thoracic cage. Diaphragm is facially and mechanically attached to thoracic spine, so releasing tension in diaphragmatic muscles will improve biomechanics, resulting in greater chest expansion and improving heart rate
Measured: 3rd week
Secondary outcomes (1)
Thoracic Kyphosis
Kyphosis is an abnormal convex curvature in thoracic spine, certain factors such as neuromuscular disorders, congenital anomalies and positional difficulties trigger development of kyphotic posture. Thoracic kyphosis affects the physiological and anatomical feature of the human body
Measured: 3rd week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Oct 2024
- Study start16 Oct 2024
- Primary completion15 Dec 2024
- Study completion15 Dec 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Thoracic KyphosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Shamaila Yaqub, MS OMPT, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06656143
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/014375 Ayeza Naser
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 23 Oct 2024
- Last updated
- 3 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Singla D, Veqar Z. Association Between Forward Head, Rounded Shoulders, and Increased Thoracic Kyphosis: A Review of the Literature. J Chiropr Med. 2017 Sep;16(3):220-229. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2017.03.004. Epub 2017 Sep 28.
PubMed 29097952Park SJ, Kim SH, Kim SH. Effects of Thoracic Mobilization and Extension Exercise on Thoracic Alignment and Shoulder Function in Patients with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel). 2020 Sep 2;8(3):316. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8030316.
PubMed 32887287Lewis JS, Valentine RE. Clinical measurement of the thoracic kyphosis. A study of the intra-rater reliability in subjects with and without shoulder pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Mar 1;11:39. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-39.
PubMed 20193055
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release on Chest Expansion and Heart Rate in Patients With Thoracic Kyphosis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06656143
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/014375 Ayeza Naser
- Conditions
- Thoracic Kyphosis
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Dec 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The air of this RCT is to evaluate the effects Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release technique on chest expansion and heart rate in patients with thoracic kyphosis
Detailed description
This study focus on diaphragmatic release technique along with conventional therapy is more effective in improving chest expansion and with im-proved chest expansion, heart rate and blood pressure is also improved because tho-racic kyphosis impacts the way of heart and lung function creating stress response and increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Lung capacity is also reduced in indi-viduals with thoracic kyphosis. Postural alterations of thoracic spine result in im-paired chest expansion and length tension curve of diaphragm.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Diaphragmatic Myofascial release | Experimental | Other: Diaphragmatic Myofascial ReleaseMyofascial release of the diaphragm is an intervention intended to indirectly stretch the diaphragm muscle fibers to reduce muscle tension, normalize fiber length, and promote the efficiency of muscle contraction. |
| Traditional Physical therapy | Active comparator | Other: Traditional Physical therapyStrengthening Deep Cervical Flexors Strengthening Shoulder Retractors Stretch Cervical Extensors Stretch Pectoralis Muscle |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Both male and females
- age 18-40 years
- patients who consented to the purposes of this study and participated voluntarily.
- patients with thoracic kyphosis ≥40
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Participant failing to fall in this category would be excluded of the study.
- Vertebrobasilar insufficiency, rib fracture, rib dislocation and/or signs of serious pathology (e.g., malignancy, inflammatory disorder, infection);
- History of cervical spine surgery in previous 12 months
- Signs of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy; and vascular syndromes such as basilar insufficiency.
- Patients with diagnosed any respiratory condition.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Physical therapyThe exercise program included the strengthening of the deep cervical flexor and shoulder retractor muscles and also stretching of the pectoralis and cervical extensor muscles. (3 sets of 12 repetitions) Strengthening Deep Cervical Flexors Lying chin tuck Lying chin tuck with head lift. Strengthening Shoulder Retractors Standing shoulder pull back with elastic Shoulder pull back with weight Stretch Cervical Extensors Chin drop Stretch Pectoralis Muscle Bilateral Pectoral stretch | Other | Traditional Physical therapy |
| Diaphragmatic Myofascial ReleaseTo release the diaphragm, the patient was positioned in the supine position. The therapist stood at the head of the patient. The therapist made manual contact bilaterally under the costal cartilages of the lower ribs (7th to 10th) with hypothenar regions of the hands and last three fingers. During the patient's inspiration, the therapist was gently pulling the points of hands contacts toward the head and slightly laterally, while elevating the ribs simultaneously. During exhalation, the therapist deepened hand contacts towards the inner costal margins Exercise Program (3 sets of 12 reps) Strengthening deep cervical flexors Strengthening shoulder retractors Stretching Cervical Extensors Stretching Pectoralis Muscle | Other | Diaphragmatic Myofascial release |
Primary outcome
Chest Expansion
Time frame: 3rd week
Diaphragm is facially and mechanically attached to thoracic spine, so releasing tension in diaphragmatic muscles will improve biomechanics, resulting in greater chest expansion and improving heart rate.
Heart Rate
Time frame: 3rd week
Diaphragm a thin, flat muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavity, is the primary muscle of respiration, which plays significant role in breathing and physiological regulation. Hyper kyphosis negatively affects chest expansion and heartrate by causing limited mobility in thoracic cage. Diaphragm is facially and mechanically attached to thoracic spine, so releasing tension in diaphragmatic muscles will improve biomechanics, resulting in greater chest expansion and improving heart rate
1 secondary outcome
Thoracic Kyphosis
Time frame: 3rd week
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Sep 2025.
- Background: PubMed 29097952Singla D, Veqar Z. Association Between Forward Head, Rounded Shoulders, and Increased Thoracic Kyphosis: A Review of the Literature. J Chiropr Med. 2017 Sep;16(3):220-229. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2017.03.004. Epub 2017 Sep 28.
- Background: PubMed 32887287Park SJ, Kim SH, Kim SH. Effects of Thoracic Mobilization and Extension Exercise on Thoracic Alignment and Shoulder Function in Patients with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel). 2020 Sep 2;8(3):316. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8030316.
- Background: PubMed 20193055Lewis JS, Valentine RE. Clinical measurement of the thoracic kyphosis. A study of the intra-rater reliability in subjects with and without shoulder pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Mar 1;11:39. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-39.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Shamaila Yaqub, MS OMPT principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Traditional Physical therapy and Diaphragmatic Myofascial Release in people with Thoracic Kyphosis, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Chest Expansion (time frame: 3rd week). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06656143, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Sep 2025.