The Impact of Myofascial Release on Vital Capacity and Diaphragmatic Excursion in Postsurgical Pleural Effusion

Abstract
Background: Accumulation of fluid in pleural space may affect on function of respiratory muscles primarily because of increase of chest wall volume. Force-length relationship of respiratory muscles indicate that for a given neural acti-vation, the pressure developed by muscles decrease with decreasing length. An increase of chest wall volume decrease length of respiratory muscles mainly diaphragm and increase of expiratory muscles length. It follows that with pleural effusion, all else being the same for a given, neural activation, pressure developed by the inspiratory and expiratory muscles should decrease and increase, respectively. So, the aim of the study to maintain flexibility of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles in order to get the optimum action of theses muscles, increase chest expansion, improve the respiratory function of these patients.
Aim of Study: To evaluate the effect of of myofascial release for diaphragm and intercostal muscles on vital capacity and diaphragmatic excursion in post surgical pleural effusion.
Subject and Methods: Forty subjects (male only) were randomly assigned into two groups equal in number. (Study group A): Consisted of 20 patients was enrolled in the myo-fascial release protocol in addition to traditional physical therapy program for pleural effusion. (Study group B): Con-sisted of 20 patients was enrolled in the traditional physical therapy program for pleural effusion only. Their vital capacity and diaphragmatic excursion were measured before and after 8 weeks of training program for both groups. The myofascial release protocol performed a 1-hour session 3 times a week for 8 weeks.
Results: Group (A) myofascial release group, showed a statistical significant improvement in vital capacity and diaphragmatic excursion, that was 13.49%, more than the improvement in group (B) traditional physical therapy group, that was 8.68%.
Conclusions: The myofascial release for diaphragm and intercostal muscles is effective on vital capacity and diaphrag-matic excursion in post surgical pleural effusion.