Acute Effects of Fascial Release Technique in Patients With Rotator Cuff Repair

Overview

This study was planned to investigate the acute effects of fascia technique on pain, range of motion, upper extremity functional level, and kinesiophobia in individuals with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Thirty volunteers with an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included to study. The individuals were randomly divided into two groups. While hot pack, interferential current and exercise program were applied to the classical physiotherapy group, the fascial release technique was applied to the treatment group in addition to the classical physiotherapy program for 2 weeks with 2 sessions per week. Individuals were assessed for pain severity by using Visual Analog Scale, range of motion by goniometer, functional level by SPADI, kinesiophobia by Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale before and after treatment and satisfaction level by using Visual Analogue Scale after treatment.

Rotator cuff (RC) rupture is cause of shoulder pain, muscle weakness, decrease of shoulder range of motion (ROM), and function.The initial treatment of RC rupture is conservative treatment. The surgical option is preferred when conservative treatment is insufficient. Open, mini-open, and arthroscopic repair may be used in surgery. In the last years, mostly arthroscopic repair has preffered because of less pain, hospitalisation period, and complications than other surgical options. Postoperative rehabilitation program is important component of surgical success. The aim of this program is to decrease pain, increase ROM, and to improve function level and daily living activities of patients.Fascia is a unit connective tissue structure surrounding whole body and divided into three groups as visceral fascia, superficial fascia, and deep fascia.Fascial tissue is affected diversely due to several reasons like emotional state, injury, and surgical interventions. Inflammation because of surgery may restricts fascial tissue. Inflammation changes mechanical properties of connective tissue, cause adhesions, and finally leads to stiffness. Thereby slidings between fascial surfaces diminish, and ROM and function decrease. To release the restricted fascial tissue, several myofascial techniques are used. One of these techniques is the fascial relase technique. Myofascial techniques have effects on reducing pain, increasing ROM, and functional level. As is known, there is no study in literature for investigating the effects of fascial relase technique on pain, ROM, and function in individuals with arthroscopic RC repair. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the acute effects of fascial release technique on pain, ROM, functional level, and kinesiophobia in patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.