Effects of Myofascial Release on Cardiac Patients After Median Sternotomy

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Valve Heart Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

myofascial release+Routine Physical Therapy

Participants in the intervention group will receive seven daily sessions of myofascial release (MFR), approximately 15 minutes each, in addition to routine physical therapy. Routine therapy includes out-of-bed activities, incentive spirometry training (Triflow), and functional exercises. The MFR procedure consists of three steps: Therapist places both hands on the thoracic outlet, with index and middle fingers above the clavicle. One hand is placed on the anterior chest and the other parallel on the participant's back. Both hands are placed on the anterolateral thoracoabdominal region. During each step, participants are instructed to take 10 slow, deep breaths, directing airflow toward the therapist's hands.

BEHAVIORAL

Routine Physical therapy

Participants in the control group will receive routine physical therapy only, including out-of-bed activities, incentive spirometry training (Triflow), and functional exercises. No additional myofascial release therapy will be provided.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Siou-Pin Huang

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-03-25

Primary Completion

2027-05-31

Completion

2027-09-30

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations