ACUTE EFFECT OF DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING ON POSTOPERATIVE UPPER TRAPEZIUS PAIN (NCT07634588) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
ACUTE EFFECT OF DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING ON POSTOPERATIVE UPPER TRAPEZIUS PAIN
Turkey (Türkiye)38 participantsStarted 2026-06-05
Plain-language summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of diaphragmatic breathing exercises added to soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and pressure pain threshold in operating room nurses experiencing upper trapezius pain after surgery-related work activities.
Participants will be operating room nurses working in a hospital operating theater who report upper trapezius pain and tenderness within 30 minutes after completing a surgical procedure. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving soft tissue mobilization, percussive therapy, and diaphragmatic breathing exercises, or a control group receiving soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy alone.
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and mechanical pain sensitivity using Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measurements. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after a single treatment session. The study aims to determine whether the addition of diaphragmatic breathing exercises provides additional benefits in reducing pain and improving function in the acute postoperative working period of operating room nurses.
Who can participate
Age range
22 Years – 55 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged between 22 and 55 years.
* Operating room nurse actively working in the hospital operating theater.
* Reporting upper trapezius pain and tenderness within 30 minutes after completion of a surgical procedure.
* Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of trauma, surgery, or chronic disease affecting the neck or shoulder region.
* Regular participation in breathing exercise programs.
* Psychiatric disorders requiring anxiolytic or antidepressant medication.
* Pregnancy.
* Skin disease, infection, or open wound in the treatment area.
* Severe cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled hypertension.
* Contraindications to manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, percussive therapy, or breathing exercises.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is studying diaphragmatic breathing as a way to reduce upper trapezius pain after surgery — is that the type of neck or muscle pain I'm actually experiencing, and would my situation fit what they're looking for?
2Since this trial is listed as 'not yet recruiting,' how long might it be before it opens, and is waiting a reasonable option given my current pain levels?
3The study is measuring pain intensity as its main outcome — but what else should I be thinking about, like whether diaphragmatic breathing has any known risks or downsides for someone in my condition?
4This is a Phase NA study focused on an acute, immediate effect of a breathing technique — does that mean the evidence on whether it actually works long-term is still limited, and should I be considering other established treatments for myofascial or trapezius pain in the meantime?
5Given that this trial seems to involve a specific breathing intervention rather than medication or surgery, is there any reason I couldn't try standard physical therapy or pain management now while also keeping this trial as a future option?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Pain Intensity
Timeframe: Immediately before intervention and immediately after intervention (single session)