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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01753726

Diaphragm Stretching Increases Spine and Thoracic Mobility

Physical therapists have traditionally included various forms of manual therapy among the therapeutic approaches to spinal pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diaphragmatic stretching on spine and thoracic movement in healthy adults.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Faculty of Health Sciences. University of Granada.

Granada, 18071, Spain

About this study

Spinal pain is a well recognized condition associated with significant personal and community burdens. Recent studies estimated the prevalence between 6 and 22% in neck pain, from 4-72% in thoracic pain and from 1.0% to 58.1% in low back pain, which increases with age. During the last decades numerous researches have been conducted on stretching effects, evidencing an increased muscle control, flexibility and range of motion. The main purpose of this investigation is to examine the effects of diaphragm stretching in spine and thoracic mobility in healthy subjects in order to apply the results in a specifics pathologies in future studies.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy subjects
  • Age: between 18 and 65 years old.

Exclusion criteria

  • Pathological subjects

Treatment and study plan

Diaphragm stretching.

Other

A manual technique of diaphragm stretching during 7 minutes. The participants were situated in a seated position.

Other names: Manual technique

Placebo.

Other

Disconnected ultrasound was used for the 7 min as sham treatment

Other names: Placebo

Primary outcomes

  1. Assessment of lumbar mobility

    Time frame: up to 2 months

    Schober test is a flexion trunk test to evaluate lumbar spine mobility. During this test, while the patient is in the standing position, marks are made in the midpoint between the posterior superior iliac spines (PSISs) and 10 cm superiorly to this point.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assessment of trunk mobility

    Time frame: baseline, 2 months

    In Finger to floor test, the subjects were stood on a stool and asked to flex the trunk forward in order to reach as far as possible with both hands, without blending their knees.

  2. Cervical mobility

    Time frame: baseline, 2 months.

    A Baseline Bubble Inclinometer, Fabrication Enterprises Incorporated, New York. USA, was used to measure de active range of motion of the cervical spine. The measurements were performed in two planes of movement, lateral flexion (frontal plane) the right and left side; and flexion-extension (sagittal plane)

  3. Abdominal and Thoracic Dimensions and Kinematics

    Time frame: baseline, 2 months.

    Abdominal and thoracic dimensions and kinematics measurements can be used as an evaluative method for diaphragmatic breathing excursion to quantify possible alterations in thoracic capacity and abdominal and chest wall compliance as achieved by all expiratory and inspiratory muscles

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad de Granada

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Diaphragm Stretching Technique Increases Spine Mobility and Thoracic Movement: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Dec 20, 2012
Registry last updated
Nov 1, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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