NCT07150039

20 Competitive Athletes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Where Randomly Assigned in a Myofascial Diaphragm Release Technique or a Sham Technique in Order to Investigate the Immediate Effects of Thoracic Mobility and Chest Expansion

Immediate Effects of a Myofascial Diaphragm Release Technique on Thoracic Mobility and Chest Expansion in Competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Athletes. A Randomized Crossover Study.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Evdokia Billis · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Thoracic injuries, in high level competitive Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) athletes occupied a significant percentage of all musculoskeletal injuries in this population. Important factors for reducing injury rates are suggested to be spine and thoracic flexibility, which assist athletes in performing offensive/defensive techniques. The diaphragm, as one of the main thoracic and breathing muscles, appears to affect spinal flexibility and chest expansion. Thus, this study's objective was to investigate the immediate effects of a myofascial release technique of the diaphragm on chest mobility (expansion) and spinal range of movement (ROM) in BJJ athletes.

Detailed description

In order to be assesed the immediate effects of a myofascial release technique on diaphragm, competitive BJJ athletes were subjected to a diaphragmatic release technique and to a sham breathing technique, in random order, across a two-week interval with outcome measures involving thoracic flexion/extension ROM, chest expansion, finger-to-floor (FTF) test and Modified-modified Schober's test (MMST).

Conditions

• Competitive Atheletes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Manual therapy intervention (Chaitow's myofascial diaphragm release)	Participants were given a myofascial release technique from a seated position, as described by Chaitow. With this technique, the athlete slightly bends his/her torso in order to relax the abdominal wall and breathes calmly and deeply (Figure 2). The therapist is behind the athlete holding his/her lower ribs, and during exhalation the therapist directs his hands caudally. This steady but gentle 'traction' is maintained throughout the breathing cycles for 4-5 minutes.
OTHER	Sham Comparison	With this sham comparator technique, the therapist stood behind the athlete (who was sitting) touching the outside of the person's lower ribs without folding his or her fingers or applying any pressure. The athlete is verbally instructed, after fully exhaling the air in their lungs to take deep breaths opening his/her ribs as much as he/she can whistle the therapist's hands follow the movement (without applying any manual pressure or traction). The procedure here also lasted for 4-5 minutes

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-05
• Primary completion: 2024-04-15
• Completion: 2024-07-02
• First posted: 2025-09-02
• Last updated: 2025-09-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Greece