The Impact of Myofascial Therapy on Connective Tissue

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fascia; Myofascial Dysfunction; Myofascial; Myofascial Pain; Pain; Fascial Manipulation; Painful

Treatments: Procedure: Myofascial therapy; Procedure: Deep Tissue Massage

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06950541

JozefPilsudski_U

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study involved patients who suffered from myofascial pain caused occupational or sports overloads or muscle strains caused by sports or improper preparation for physical activity. The patients had not been previously treated for this reason. The only form of therapy was self-administered over-the-counter painkillers and ointments. Due to lack of relief, patients received one of two types of treatments, myofascial therapy or deep tissue massage. Each group was divided into three subgroups, depending on the location of the symptoms: arm, forearm, calf. The patients received three treatments on alternate days. Ultrasound imaging examination was performed by a physiotherapist, qualified to assess soft tissues using an USG. Two measurements were taken, before and seven days after therapy. To standardise the assessment, ultrasound imaging protocol was used.

The thickness of the fascia was measured by ImageJ software. The aim of the study was an ultrasound imaging assessment of connective tissue of patients undergone myofascial therapy.

Enrollment: 295 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• undergone myofascial therapy
• undergone deep tissue massage
• patients with pain of musculoskeletal origin
• without contraindications to myofascial therapy
• without neurological diseases
• voluntary consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• resignation from the study
• lack of patient consent
• cancers
• disturbed continuity of skin tissue at the examination site
• previous surgical procedures at the study site
• large vascular changes
• inflammatory changes in the examined areas of the body
• sensory disturbances in the examined body areas
• resignation from therapy
• changing the type of therapy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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295 participants in 2 patient groups

Myofascial therapy

Experimental group

Treatment:

Procedure: Myofascial therapy

Deep Tissue Massage

Experimental group

Treatment:

Procedure: Deep Tissue Massage