Effects of diaphragmatic myofascial release on gastroesophageal reflux disease : a preliminary randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether implementing a myofascial release (MFR) protocol designed to restore the myofascial properties of the diaphragm has any efect on the symptoms, quality of life, and consumption of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) drugs by patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal refux disease (GERD). We randomized 30 patients with GERD into a MFR group or a sham group. Changes in symptomatology and quality of life were measured with the Refux Disease Questionnaire and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index. Need of PPIs was measured as the milligrams of drug intake over the 7 days prior to each assessment. All variables were assessed at baseline, one week and 4 weeks after the end of the treatment. At week 4, patients receiving MFR showed signifcant improvements in symptomatology (mean diference-1.1; 95% CI: −1.7 to −0.5), gastrointestinal quality of life (mean diference 18.1; 95% CI: 4.8 to 31.5), and PPIs use (mean diference-97mg; 95% CI: −162 to −32), compared to the sham group. These preliminary fndings indicate that the application of the MFR protocol we used in this study decreased the symptoms and PPIs usage and increased the quality of life of patients with non-erosive GERD up to four weeks after the end of the treatment.