Immediate effects of myofascial release to the pectoral fascia on posture, range of motion, and muscle excitation: a crossover randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT

Context

Forward shoulder posture (FSP) is a risk factor for shoulder pathology. Manual therapists often use myofascial release (MFR) to elongate restricted pectoral fascia to reduce FSP and improve shoulder function; however, the effects of this treatment approach remain anecdotal.

Objective

Determine the acute effects of 4-min of MFR, compared to a soft-touch control (CON), to the pectoral fascia on: 1) FSP, 2) shoulder horizontal abduction ROM (HA-ROM), and 3) muscle excitation of the trapezius (upper, middle, lower [UT, MT, LT]) and pectoralis major (PEC).

Methods

Fifty-nine right-handed participants (27 ± 9 years, 30 female) with FSP, but otherwise asymptomatic shoulders participated in a randomized crossover clinical trial by attending two experimental sessions: one MFR and one CON treatment, each administered by a Registered Massage Therapist. FSP, HA-ROM, and muscle excitation during a reaching task, were measured before and after each treatment.

Results

There was a significant interaction between treatment and time for FSP (p = .018, η_p = .093) with FSP decreasing from PRE MFR (128 ± 19 mm) to POST MFR (123 ± 19 mm; p < .001, η_p = .420) and PRE CON (126 ± 19 mm) to POST CON (124 ± 18 mm; p < .001, η_p = .191) interventions. There were no significant differences in HA-ROM or muscle excitation.

Conclusion

Four minutes of MFR or CON to the pectoral fascia acutely reduces FSP.

KEYWORDS:

• Electromyography
• FSP
• massage therapy
• pectoralis major
• trapezius

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2024.2316414

Additional information

Funding

This research study was registered with the U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov database [NCT04944745].

Notes on contributors

Sarah Bohunicky

Sarah Bohunicky is a Certified Athletic Therapist and PhD candidate at the University of Manitoba in Applied Health Sciences. Her research investigates various shoulder rehabilitation strategies and the impact they have on posture, range of motion, muscle excitation, and muscle stiffness. Sarah is also an instructor at Acadia University where she teaches in the School of Kinesiology.

Lindsey Rutherford

Lindsey Rutherford grew up in a small town in Manitoba where her love of sports and activity brought her to the University of Manitoba to study Kinesiology, majoring in Athletic Therapy. As an undergraduate student, Lindsey was the recipient of two Undergraduate Research Awards that exposed her to research and broadened her skillset that was especially applicable to her experience as a healthcare professional. Now a Certified Athletic Therapist, Lindsey is continuing her education by pursuing a doctorate in chiropractic in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Kara-Lyn Harrison

Kara-Lyn Harrison received her Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology and Masters of Science in Kinesiology and at Lakehead University. Kara is currently a PhD candidate in Applied Health Sciences. Her research focuses on sex differences in myoelectric manifestations of fatigue.

Quinn Malone

Quinn Malone received his Bachelor of Science and his Master of Science degrees from the University of Manitoba in 2016 and 2021, respectively. He is currently completing his PhD in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia: Okanagan, investigating the effects of acute cannabis intoxication on motor behaviour. He has been involved in a number of research projects since 2014, covering a variety of subjects including; non-surgical spine care, opioids in healthcare, exercise measurement methodology, motor control, and electronic healthcare device development.

Cheryl M. Glazebrook

Dr. Cheryl M. Glazebrook is Professor at the University of Manitoba. Her research program seeks to understand how the nervous system integrates information from different senses (e.g., sight, sound) to perform precise movements. She manipulates the accuracy and availability of visual, auditory, and somatosensory information in order to develop principles for using multisensory information to improve motor skill learning and performance.

Trisha D. Scribbans

Dr. Trisha D. Scribbans is Certified Athletic Therapist and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba. Her research program focuses on understanding the neuromuscular mechanisms that control of force production and movement of the upper extremity, with a particular emphasis on the role of scapular position and movement in shoulder and scapulothoracic mechanics/pathomechanics. She is also interested in identifying novel treatment/prevention strategies to reduce the incidence and duration chronic shoulder pathologies, individual responses to rehabilitative exercise strategies and skeletal and neurological adaptations to exercise training and other therapies.