efficacy of myofascial release therapy on the cardiorespiratory functions in patients with covid-19

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.