<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Articles JournalTitle="Journal of Modern Rehabilitation">
  <Article>
    <Journal>
      <PublisherName>Tehran University of Medical Sciences</PublisherName>
      <JournalTitle>Journal of Modern Rehabilitation</JournalTitle>
      <Issn>2538-385X</Issn>
      <Volume>16</Volume>
      <Issue>1</Issue>
      <PubDate PubStatus="epublish">
        <Year>2022</Year>
        <Month>01</Month>
        <Day>01</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </Journal>
    <title locale="en_US">Efficacy of Myofascial Release Therapy on the Cardiorespiratory Functions in Patients With COVID-19</title>
    <FirstPage>77</FirstPage>
    <LastPage>84</LastPage>
    <AuthorList>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Sara</FirstName>
        <LastName>Fereydounnia</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Azadeh</FirstName>
        <LastName>Shadmehr</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Alireza</FirstName>
        <LastName>Tahmasbi</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.</affiliation>
      </Author>
    </AuthorList>
    <History>
      <PubDate PubStatus="received">
        <Year>2021</Year>
        <Month>04</Month>
        <Day>03</Day>
      </PubDate>
      <PubDate PubStatus="accepted">
        <Year>2021</Year>
        <Month>06</Month>
        <Day>17</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </History>
    <abstract locale="en_US">Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Myofascial Release Therapy (MRT) on cardiorespiratory functions in patients with COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: A total of 36 patients with COVID-19 (intervention group=20, controls=16) were included in the present study. The patients in the intervention group participated in a single session of suboccipital, anterior thoracic and sternal, anterior cervical, and diaphragm myofascial release techniques, plus respiratory physiotherapy. The controls just received respiratory physiotherapy. Before-after assessments included recording heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, chest expansion, and breathing comfort.
Results: There was a significant reduction in the heart rate and ease of breathing in the intervention group (P=0.04, P=0.02; respectively); also, the diastolic blood pressure increased significantly in the control group (P=0.02). Compared to the controls, the ease of breathing decreased significantly in the intervention group (P=0.03).
Conclusion: Myofascial release techniques of the neck, thoracic, and diaphragm, along with respiratory physiotherapy, could immediately affect heart rate and ease of breathing and prevent increasing diastolic blood pressure. If a patient with COVID-19 is stable, pulmonary physiotherapists may consider using these techniques while monitoring cardiopulmonary function.</abstract>
    <web_url>https://jmr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jmr/article/view/415</web_url>
  </Article>
</Articles>
