Effects of Diaphragm Release Technique on Sleep Quality and Respiratory Function in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients

March 9, 2026 updated by: Burcu Bağcı, Sanko University

Effects of Diaphragm Release Technique on Sleep Quality and Respiratory Functions in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

This study aims to investigate the effects of diaphragm relaxation technique on sleep quality and respiratory functions in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Two groups will be formed in the study: one group will receive standard cardiac rehabilitation, while the other group will receive diaphragm relaxation technique in addition to this.

Throughout the study, patients' respiratory functions, sleep quality, respiratory muscle strength, and pain levels will be measured. These measurements will be taken from the patients...

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This study is an interventional research investigating the effects of the diaphragm release technique on sleep quality and respiratory functions in patients undergoing minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Participants will be assigned to either an intervention or a control group. Both groups will receive standard in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation, while the intervention group will additionally receive the diaphragm release technique during their hospital stay.

Data will be collected using standardized tools, including pulmonary function tests (spirometry), respiratory muscle strength measurements, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and visual analog scales for pain assessment. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants, and the study will be conducted at Gaziantep Sanko University Hospital Cardiovascular Surgery Unit in accordance with ethical committee approval.

The aim of this research is to develop a safe and effective method to improve respiratory health and quality of life in patients after cardiac surgery.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • şehitkamil
      • Gaziantep, şehitkamil, Turkey (Türkiye), 27500
        • Sanko Unıversıty

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age under 65 years
  • Undergoing minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
  • Hemodynamically stable
  • Ambulatory (able to walk)
  • Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 25

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of cerebrovascular events (stroke, TIA)
  • Orthopedic problems preventing walking
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Severe visual impairment
  • Other diseases limiting participation in exercise training (pulmonary, neurological, metabolic, etc.)
  • Verbal or auditory cooperation problems

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Diaphragm Release plus Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation
Standard in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation plus diaphragm release technique applied for a minimum of 5 days during hospitalization.
Participants receive standard in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation plus diaphragm release technique. The diaphragm release is performed daily during the hospital stay for a minimum o
Active Comparator: Standard In-Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation
Standard in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation only.
Participants receive standard in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation only, including breathing exercises, mobilization, and post-operative physiotherapy, without diaphragm release.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pulmonary Function (Spirometry)
Time Frame: 1 years
FEV1/FVC ratio measured with a spirometer. Measurements are performed according to ATS/ERS guidelines.
1 years
Sleep Quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
Time Frame: 1 years
sleep latency and daytime dysfunction evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
1 years
Respiratory Muscle Strength (MIP/MEP)
Time Frame: 1 years
Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) measured using an oral pressure device to evaluate respiratory muscle strength.
1 years
Pain Level (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 1 years
Chest and incision site pain assessed using a 0-10 cm Visual Analog Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable). Measured during rest, activity, and night.
1 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 30, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

February 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 9, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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