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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07508267

Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching and Scapular Retraction in Asthma Patients

Patients with asthma frequently experience upper back stiffness and rounded shoulders and tightness in the thoracic region. Rib cage stiffness occurs due to poor posture and muscle tightness, which leads to decreased chest expansion and increased use of accessory muscles during breathing. Additionally, rounded shoulders can hinder proper opening of the chest, preventing the lungs from expanding properly. Thoracic spine rotation stretching targets the thoracic paraspinal muscles, erector spinae, and intercostal muscles. This exercise helps improve thoracic mobility, increases chest expansion and pulmonary function, and reduces dyspnea. The other exercise is Scapular Retraction, which targets the rhomboids, trapezius, and posterior deltoids that help in chest opening and lead to chest expansion and allow lungs to expand more fully during inhalation. Together, these exercises improve chest expansion and pulmonary function, reduce dyspnea, and improve posture.

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Key information

Conditions

Asthma Chronic Asthma Bronchial Diseases Dyspnea Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity, Immediate Immune System Diseases Lung Diseases Lung Diseases, Obstructive Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Respiration Disorders Respiratory Hypersensitivity Respiratory Tract Diseases Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Sehat medical complex hanjerwal

Lahore, Pakistan

About this study

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition that affects millions worldwide, characterized by airway inflammation and reversible airflow obstruction. Patients often experience difficulty in breathing, which can severely impact their quality of life. People with asthma are less active that their peers, and consequently, the patient becomes more sedentary. This study focusses to compare the effects of thoracic spine rotation stretching and Scapular Retraction exercises on chest expansion, pulmonary function, and dyspnea in patients with asthma. By investigating these interventions, the study seeks to provide practical recommendations for enhancing the management of asthma symptoms, ultimately improving respiratory function and mobility may improve asthma control and quality of life.

A randomized clinical trial will enroll participants aged 18 to 50 with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic asthma. The study will take place at Rai Medical College Teaching Hospital Sargodha, utilizing a non- probability convenient sampling technique for participant selection. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups using a lottery method, ensures a diverse yet unbiased sample. Group A will perform thoracic spine rotation stretching, while Group B will engage in shoulder squeezing exercises, following a standardized warm-up. Baseline treatment will include breathing exercises, postural education, bronchodilators, and nebulization Each group will engage in their respective exercises for a defined duration, focusing on improving respiratory mechanics and muscle flexibility. Study will be completed in 8 weeks (3x/week). After data collection, data will be analyzed using SPSS version 26. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention period, measuring chest expansion with a measuring tape, pulmonary function through digital spirometer (including FEV1 and FVC their ratio and peak expiratory flow), and dyspnea levels using the Modified borg dyspnea scale, thoracic rotation range of motion measured with a goniometer. The integration of targeted physical therapy in this study has the potential to significantly improve asthma management by enhancing respiratory function, reducing dyspnea, and increasing chest expansion.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age between (18 to 50).
  • Confirmed diagnosis of asthma based on clinical guidelines.
  • Nonsmoker.
  • Chronic asthma.
  • Thoracic spine abnormality

Exclusion criteria

  • Acute asthma
  • Recent exacerbations.
  • History of sever cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, infectious diseases.
  • Any neurological condition.
  • Cognitive impairment.
  • Any recent injury of spine, shoulder, or rib cage that limit mobility or cause pain.

Treatment and study plan

Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching

Other

Thoracic spine rotation stretching consists of controlled rotational movements of the thoracic spine performed to improve thoracic mobility. The exercises are administered under supervision, three sessions per week for eight weeks, using standardized repetitions within a comfortable range of motion.

Scapular retraction

Other

Scapular retraction exercises involve active scapular retraction movements performed to improve shoulder and upper thoracic mobility. The intervention is administered under supervision, three sessions per week for eight weeks in individuals with chronic asthma.

Primary outcomes

  1. Modified borg scale

    Time frame: 8 Weeks

    Dyspnea at rest was assessed using the modified Borg scale. It is a well-validated scoring system using a 0-to-10-point scale.The intensity of dyspnea is most often assessed according to a symptom scale, with the modified Borg scale, which measures dyspnea on a scale of 0-10 arbitrary units, being used most frequently.It is a validated dyspnea scale ranging from 0 ("no shortness of breath") to 10 ("worst shortness of breath") points.

  2. Digital spirometer:

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    A digital spirometer will be used to measure pulmonary function tests including FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC.The normal values of FEV1/FVC ratio are >0.70 and FVC, FEV1 are >80% or predicted age.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Tape measure

    Time frame: 8 Weeks

    Chest expansion was measured using a measurement tape (Baseline 12-1201 with Gulick attachment, Fabrication Enterprises Inc., New York, NY, USA) to determine the difference between rib cage circumference at the end of forced expiration and rib cage circumference at the end of forced inspiration. Chest expansion measurement is highly reliable with an interexaminer intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99.The chest circumference was measured in cm at maximum inspiration and maximum expiration by horizontally passing through the junction of the xiphoid process and the body of the sternum so that the chest girth was exposed.The tape measure is wrapped around the thorax in a level position and pulled just taut (but not restricting chest expansion) at three anatomic sites.1. The angle of Louis on the sternum .2.The xiphoid process for mid-chest expansion 3.The midpoint between the xiphoid process and the umbilicus for lower chest expansion, where most of the bucket handle motion occur.

Other outcomes

  1. Goniometer

    Time frame: 8 Weeks

    The goniometer is a tool that can measure angles from 0 to 360 degrees and is marked at intervals of 5 degrees. One of the two arm is fixed and the other arm is moved to the end- range of the movement and the final displayed ROM angle is recorded. The goniometer measurements were made by placing the stationary arm of the goniometer on the T1, T2 (spine of scapula) or T1 and T2 junctions of the subject parallel to the imaginary line connecting the two shoulders, and the mobile arm was aligned parallel to the floor.A goniometer is a device that measures an angle or permits the rotation of an object to a definite position.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparative Effects of Thoracic Spine Rotation Stretching and Scapular Retraction on Chest Expansion, Pulmonary Function Test and Dyspnea in Asthma Patients

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Apr 2, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 2, 2026

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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