Respiratory FunctionEMGT-RESPNCT07822139
Acute and Long-Term Effects of Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy on Respiratory Function in Healthy Adults
A study testing Other in people with Respiratory Function, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study will investigate the immediate and longer-term effects of integrated myofascial release therapy on breathing-related outcomes in healthy adults. Participants will receive integrated myofascial release therapy twice a week for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 treatment sessions. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Respiratory Function
- What is being tested?
- Other
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 16 Oct 2026to 29 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older.
- Ability to communicate in Turkish.
- Voluntary agreement to participate in the study.
- Ability to attend the scheduled assessment and treatment sessions regularly.
Who cannot join
- Asthma, clinically significant dyspnea, or chronic pulmonary disease.
- Influenza, COVID-19, or another acute respiratory tract infection within the previous 6 weeks that may affect respiratory function.
- Recent surgery involving the neck, shoulder, or thoracic region.
- History of rib fracture or an acute musculoskeletal condition that would make manual therapy inappropriate.
- Serious cardiovascular, neurological, or systemic disease that could prevent safe participation in the assessments.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Karabuk University
Karabük, Karabük Province, 78050
About this study
Official title: Acute and Long-Term Effects of Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy on Pulmonary Function, Thoracic Mobility, and Cough Strength in Healthy Adults
This study will investigate the immediate and longer-term effects of integrated myofascial release therapy on breathing-related outcomes in healthy adults.
Participants will receive integrated myofascial release therapy twice a week for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 treatment sessions. Assessments will be performed before treatment, immediately after the first treatment session, at the end of the 6-week treatment period, and 1 month and 3 months after treatment.
The study will evaluate pulmonary function, cough strength, and chest mobility. The aim is to determine both the immediate response to a single treatment session and whether repeated treatment produces effects that are maintained during follow-up.
Read the detailed description
Myofascial release therapy is a manual therapy approach intended to reduce restrictions in fascial tissues and improve tissue mobility. Fascial structures surrounding the thorax, neck, shoulder, and upper extremity may contribute to chest wall mechanics and movements associated with breathing.
Previous studies have mainly focused on immediate or short-term responses to myofascial release techniques, while evidence regarding cumulative and sustained effects remains limited. Therefore, this prospective single-group interventional study is designed to evaluate both the immediate response to the first treatment session and the effects of repeated treatment over time.
Integrated myofascial release therapy will be applied to fascial structures associated with the upper extremity, neck-shoulder region, and pectoral/anterior chest region. Treatment will be administered twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions.
Assessments will be conducted at five time points: before treatment (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of the 6-week treatment period (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Pulmonary function will be evaluated using spirometry, including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, the FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow. Cough strength will be assessed using peak cough flow. Thoracic mobility will be evaluated using chest expansion measurements at the axillary, xiphoid/epigastric, and subcostal levels.
The study is intended to distinguish the acute response to a single session from the cumulative effect of repeated treatment and the persistence of any observed effects after treatment has ended.
- Conditions
- Respiratory Function
- Being tested
- Other
- Keywords
- Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy, Myofascial Release, Manual Therapy, Pulmonary Function, Thoracic Mobility, Chest Expansion, Peak Cough Flow, Healthy Adults
- Medical subject headings
- Respiratory Aspiration
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
OtherOther
Integrated myofascial release therapy will be administered twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 20-30 minutes. The intervention will include single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder myofascial release, and pectoral-anterior chest cross-hand release techniques. Techniques will be applied using slow, low-intensity, pain-free manual contact while following tissue resistance and release. The sequence and target regions will be standardized across sessions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive integrated myofascial release therapy twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 20-30 minutes. The intervention will include single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder myofascial release, and pectoral-anterior chest cross-hand release techniques applied in a standardized sequence. Receives: Other: Other |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Xiphoid-Level Chest Expansion
Chest expansion will be measured at the xiphoid/epigastric level using a non-elastic measuring tape. The difference between chest circumference at maximal inspiration and maximal expiration will be calculated in centimeters. Measurements will be repeated using the same anatomical landmarks and standardized participant position across assessment time points.
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Secondary outcomes (7)
Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Forced vital capacity will be assessed using spirometry and recorded in liters. Participants will perform repeated acceptable forced expiratory maneuvers according to the standardized measurement procedure, and the highest acceptable FVC value will be used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second will be assessed using spirometry and recorded in liters. Participants will perform repeated acceptable forced expiratory maneuvers, and the highest acceptable FEV1 value will be used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in FEV1/FVC Ratio
The FEV1/FVC ratio will be calculated automatically by the spirometry device from acceptable forced expiratory maneuvers and recorded as a percentage.
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)
Peak expiratory flow will be assessed during standardized spirometry maneuvers. The highest technically acceptable PEF value will be recorded and used for analysis, expressed according to the spirometry device output.
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Peak Cough Flow (PCF)
Peak cough flow will be assessed using a portable peak flow meter and recorded in liters per minute. Participants will perform at least three technically appropriate voluntary cough maneuvers after a deep inspiration, and the highest technically acceptable PCF value will be used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Axillary-Level Chest Expansion
Chest expansion at the axillary level will be measured using a non-elastic measuring tape positioned approximately at the level of the third rib. The difference between chest circumference at maximal inspiration and maximal expiration will be calculated in centimeters. The same participant position and anatomical landmarks will be used across all assessment time points
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Subcostal-Level Chest Expansion
Chest expansion at the subcostal level will be measured using a non-elastic measuring tape. The difference between chest circumference at maximal inspiration and maximal expiration will be calculated in centimeters. The same standardized participant position and anatomical landmarks will be used at each assessment time point.
Measured: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Sep 2026
- Study start16 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion12 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion29 Jun 2027 (estimated)
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 Respiratory FunctionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ece ACAR, Karabuk University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07822139
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KBU-EMGT-RESP-2026-01
- Acronym
- EMGT-RESP
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in publications from this study may be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Shared data will not include information that could directly identify individual participants.
Publications
Bohunicky S, Rutherford L, Harrison KL, Malone Q, Glazebrook CM, Scribbans TD. Immediate effects of myofascial release to the pectoral fascia on posture, range of motion, and muscle excitation: a crossover randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2024 Oct;32(5):495-505. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2024.2316414. Epub 2024 Feb 16.
PubMed 38363078Graham BL, Steenbruggen I, Miller MR, Barjaktarevic IZ, Cooper BG, Hall GL, Hallstrand TS, Kaminsky DA, McCarthy K, McCormack MC, Oropez CE, Rosenfeld M, Stanojevic S, Swanney MP, Thompson BR. Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Oct 15;200(8):e70-e88. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201908-1590ST.
PubMed 31613151Marizeiro DF, Florencio ACL, Nunes ACL, Campos NG, Lima POP. Immediate effects of diaphragmatic myofascial release on the physical and functional outcomes in sedentary women: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Oct;22(4):924-929. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.10.008. Epub 2017 Oct 25.
PubMed 30368336
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acute and Long-Term Effects of Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy on Pulmonary Function, Thoracic Mobility, and Cough Strength in Healthy Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07822139
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMGT-RESP / KBU-EMGT-RESP-2026-01
- Conditions
- Respiratory Function
- Keywords
- Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy, Myofascial Release, Manual Therapy, Pulmonary Function, Thoracic Mobility, Chest Expansion, Peak Cough Flow, Healthy Adults
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 12 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 29 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Sep 2026 (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.
This study will investigate the immediate and longer-term effects of integrated myofascial release therapy on breathing-related outcomes in healthy adults.
Participants will receive integrated myofascial release therapy twice a week for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 treatment sessions. Assessments will be performed before treatment, immediately after the first treatment session, at the end of the 6-week treatment period, and 1 month and 3 months after treatment.
The study will evaluate pulmonary function, cough strength, and chest mobility. The aim is to determine both the immediate response to a single treatment session and whether repeated treatment produces effects that are maintained during follow-up.
Detailed description
Myofascial release therapy is a manual therapy approach intended to reduce restrictions in fascial tissues and improve tissue mobility. Fascial structures surrounding the thorax, neck, shoulder, and upper extremity may contribute to chest wall mechanics and movements associated with breathing.
Previous studies have mainly focused on immediate or short-term responses to myofascial release techniques, while evidence regarding cumulative and sustained effects remains limited. Therefore, this prospective single-group interventional study is designed to evaluate both the immediate response to the first treatment session and the effects of repeated treatment over time.
Integrated myofascial release therapy will be applied to fascial structures associated with the upper extremity, neck-shoulder region, and pectoral/anterior chest region. Treatment will be administered twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions.
Assessments will be conducted at five time points: before treatment (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of the 6-week treatment period (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Pulmonary function will be evaluated using spirometry, including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, the FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow. Cough strength will be assessed using peak cough flow. Thoracic mobility will be evaluated using chest expansion measurements at the axillary, xiphoid/epigastric, and subcostal levels.
The study is intended to distinguish the acute response to a single session from the cumulative effect of repeated treatment and the persistence of any observed effects after treatment has ended.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy | Experimental | Other: OtherParticipants in this arm will receive integrated myofascial release therapy twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 20-30 minutes. The intervention will include single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder myofascial release, and pectoral-anterior chest cross-hand release techniques applied in a standardized sequence. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 18 years or older.
- Ability to communicate in Turkish.
- Voluntary agreement to participate in the study.
- Ability to attend the scheduled assessment and treatment sessions regularly.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Asthma, clinically significant dyspnea, or chronic pulmonary disease.
- Influenza, COVID-19, or another acute respiratory tract infection within the previous 6 weeks that may affect respiratory function.
- Recent surgery involving the neck, shoulder, or thoracic region.
- History of rib fracture or an acute musculoskeletal condition that would make manual therapy inappropriate.
- Serious cardiovascular, neurological, or systemic disease that could prevent safe participation in the assessments.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| OtherIntegrated myofascial release therapy will be administered twice weekly for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 20-30 minutes. The intervention will include single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder myofascial release, and pectoral-anterior chest cross-hand release techniques. Techniques will be applied using slow, low-intensity, pain-free manual contact while following tissue resistance and release. The sequence and target regions will be standardized across sessions. | Other | Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy |
Primary outcome
Change in Xiphoid-Level Chest Expansion
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Chest expansion will be measured at the xiphoid/epigastric level using a non-elastic measuring tape. The difference between chest circumference at maximal inspiration and maximal expiration will be calculated in centimeters. Measurements will be repeated using the same anatomical landmarks and standardized participant position across assessment time points.
7 secondary outcomes
Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in FEV1/FVC Ratio
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Peak Cough Flow (PCF)
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Axillary-Level Chest Expansion
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Change in Subcostal-Level Chest Expansion
Time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Sep 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38363078Bohunicky S, Rutherford L, Harrison KL, Malone Q, Glazebrook CM, Scribbans TD. Immediate effects of myofascial release to the pectoral fascia on posture, range of motion, and muscle excitation: a crossover randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2024 Oct;32(5):495-505. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2024.2316414. Epub 2024 Feb 16.
- Background: PubMed 31613151Graham BL, Steenbruggen I, Miller MR, Barjaktarevic IZ, Cooper BG, Hall GL, Hallstrand TS, Kaminsky DA, McCarthy K, McCormack MC, Oropez CE, Rosenfeld M, Stanojevic S, Swanney MP, Thompson BR. Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Oct 15;200(8):e70-e88. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201908-1590ST.
- Background: PubMed 30368336Marizeiro DF, Florencio ACL, Nunes ACL, Campos NG, Lima POP. Immediate effects of diaphragmatic myofascial release on the physical and functional outcomes in sedentary women: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Oct;22(4):924-929. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.10.008. Epub 2017 Oct 25.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in publications from this study may be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Shared data will not include information that could directly identify individual participants.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Other in people with Respiratory Function, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 5 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Sep 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ece Acar, Assist Prof (05457925035, acarkosanece@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Xiphoid-Level Chest Expansion (time frame: Baseline (T0), immediately after the first treatment session (T1), at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (T2), 1 month after treatment (T3), and 3 months after treatment (T4).). 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 NCT07822139, 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 16 Sep 2026.