Effect of Direct Myofascial Release Technique Combined With Exercise on Round Ligament Pain During Pregnancy

Effect of Direct Myofascial Release Technique Combined With Exercise on Round Ligament Pain During Pregnancy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Study's objective is to explore effect of combining direct myofascial release technique with therapeutic exercises on decreasing round ligament pain during pregnancy.The main question to be answered by this study:

Does a myofascial release technique combined with exercise have effect on round ligament pain during pregnancy? Researchers will compare 2 groups of 70 participants of multi para pregnant women at 24 weeks' of gestation diagnosed with round ligament pain . Group A (study group) included participants who joined a six-week physiotherapy plan of care in the form of sessions composed of direct myofascial release technique combined with specific therapeutic exercise as well as put on a belly band and received advice.

While, group B involved control participants who followed the routine care and advice as well as wearing the same belly band as group A participants.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pregnancy Complications
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Manual therapy technique named myofascial release combined with therapeutic exercises

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 70
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Beni Suweif Governorate
    • Banī Suwayf, Beni Suweif Governorate, Egypt
      • Beni-Suef University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 70 multipara pregnant women at 24 weeks' of gestation diagnosed with round ligament pain were included. Their ages ranged from 25-35 years and their body mass index (BMI) did not exceed 30 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants were excluded from the study if round ligament pain was accompanied by cramping, vaginal bleeding, fever, nausea, vomiting, or any changes in vaginal discharge as well as patients diagnosed with preterm labor, placental abruption, urinary tract infections, appendicitis, cardiac diseases, chronic physical or mental disorders, or failed to complete an informed consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: No Intervention: Placebo Group routine belly band as well as advice
Experimental: Intervention group participants joined a six-week physiotherapy plan of care in the form of session	Other: Manual therapy technique named myofascial release combined with therapeutic exercises; Round ligament release technique was conducted first from left side lying position followed by right side lying position with a pillow between knees and another pillow supported head, determining round ligament as a fibromuscular cordlike structure in lower abdomen particularly at the area of the Inguinal Canal between Anterior Superior Iliac Spine and 2-3 cm laterally from Symphysis Pubis.12 Then, therapist applied very gentle sustained pressure with minor traction to restricted part of round ligament for 90 to 120 seconds according to patient's tolerance followed by release for 3 minutes.As well as, group of therapeutic exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pelvic Inclination Angle	Pelvic inclination or pelvic tilting angle was measured in sagittal plane between a horizontal line and a line bifurcating the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine and Posterior Superior Iliac Spine for all participants by using Palpation Meter Inclinometer at the start and the end of the study.	4 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Beni-Suef University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 10, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): May 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 15, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Round ligament - pain- pregnancy- myofascial release- exercise
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Patient Care; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Exercise Therapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: FMBSUREC/02122025/Awad

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No