20 Competitive Athletes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Where Randomly Assigned in a Myofascial Diaphragm Release Technique or a Sham Technique in Order to Investigate the Immediate Effects of Thoracic Mobility and Chest Expansion (Myofascial Rx)

Evdokia Billis

Status: Completed

Conditions: Competitive Atheletes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Treatments: Other: Manual therapy intervention (Chaitow's myofascial diaphragm release); Other: Sham Comparison

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07150039

Myofascial technique on BJJ

Details and patient eligibility

About

Thoracic injuries, in high level competitive Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) athletes occupied a significant percentage of all musculoskeletal injuries in this population. Important factors for reducing injury rates are suggested to be spine and thoracic flexibility, which assist athletes in performing offensive/defensive techniques. The diaphragm, as one of the main thoracic and breathing muscles, appears to affect spinal flexibility and chest expansion. Thus, this study's objective was to investigate the immediate effects of a myofascial release technique of the diaphragm on chest mobility (expansion) and spinal range of movement (ROM) in BJJ athletes.

Full description

In order to be assesed the immediate effects of a myofascial release technique on diaphragm, competitive BJJ athletes were subjected to a diaphragmatic release technique and to a sham breathing technique, in random order, across a two-week interval with outcome measures involving thoracic flexion/extension ROM, chest expansion, finger-to-floor (FTF) test and Modified-modified Schober's test (MMST).

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• adult athletes up to 50 years old, with at least three years of experience in athletic BJJ competitions and participate in training sessions at least three times a week without interruption during the last year.

Exclusion criteria

• Athletes having sustained spinal or rib fractures in the last year or being suffering from chronic diseases

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Myofascial release intervention arm

Experimental group

Description:

This myofascial technique was a manual hterapy treatment technique performed in sitting. With this technique, the athlete slightly bends his/her torso in order to relax the abdominal wall and breathes calmly and deeply . The therapist is behind the athlete holding his/her lower ribs, and during exhalation the therapist directs his hands caudally. This steady but gentle 'traction' is maintained throughout the breathing cycles for 4-5 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Manual therapy intervention (Chaitow's myofascial diaphragm release)

Sham intervention arm

Sham Comparator group

Description:

With this technique (also performed in sitting), the therapist stood behind the athlete touching the outside of the person's lower ribs without folding his or her fingers or applying any pressure. The athlete is verbally instructed, after fully exhaling the air in their lungs to take deep breaths opening his/her ribs as much as he/she can whistle the therapist's hands follow the movement (without applying any manual pressure or traction). The procedure here also lasted for 4-5 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Sham Comparison