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

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 ( = .018, η = .093) with FSP decreasing from PRE MFR (128 ± 19 mm) to POST MFR (123 ± 19 mm;  < .001, η = .420) and PRE CON (126 ± 19 mm) to POST CON (124 ± 18 mm;  < .001, η = .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.