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Manual Therapy and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients With Hiatal Hernia

Effectiveness of Manual Therapy in the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients With Type I Hiatal Hernia

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05283447
Enrollment
44
Registered
2022-03-17
Start date
2022-05-15
Completion date
2023-06-30
Last updated
2025-07-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Gastroesophageal Reflux

Keywords

Hernia, Hiatal, Osteopathic Medicine, Musculoskeletal Manipulations, Gastroesophageal Reflux

Brief summary

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is highly prevalent in our society. The association between GERD and hiatal hernia has been shown to be etiologically critical in the onset or worsening of these patients' clinic. Pharmacological treatment with proton pump inhibitors (IBPs) and H2 blockers is commonly prescribed and will be followed for many patients for life. The cost of health care and the effects of prolonged consumption of PPIs are questionable, and other therapeutic alternatives are being considered. Only in exceptional cases and in patients with GERD and certain types of hiatal hernia is surgery the treatment of choice. Physiotherapy at the time proposed respiratory and diaphragmatic training as a therapeutic alternative that would improve the function of anti-reflux barriers. Recently, other studies evaluating the effectiveness of manual techniques on the crural diaphragm or osteopathic maneuvers on the cervical and thoracic region have obtained good results in the improvement of the MRGE clinic. In this context, the clinical trial presented specifically treats those with reflux disease associated with a Type I hiatal hernia with manual therapy. Material and methods: The aim of the clinical study is to evaluate the effects of a clinical intervention protocol on patients with GERD for type I hiatal hernia. The variables are assessed: GERD impact using the GIS MRG Impact Scale, and the EVA format scale for the Reflux Clinic (IEPT) used by the Surgery Service of the Parc Taulí Hospital in Sabadell . The productivity and quality of life of these patients is also assessed using the QOLRAD reflux and dyspepsia patient quality of life questionnaire. The randomized, double-blind clinical trial has a sample of 44 patients, divided into an intervention group treated with the protocol under study, and a control group undergoing treatment that does not affect the hernia. hiatus and reflux. A total of three treatment sessions are performed on each subject. The participants answer the different questionnaires, before the start of the treatment and for each session, one week after the treatment and one month later. In the protocol, maneuvers are performed on the epigastric region, thoracic diaphragm, mediastinum and anterior face of the neck.

Interventions

The clinical protocol subject to analysis for the intervention group consists of manual approach techniques for the myofascial and viscerofascial structures of the anterior face of the neck, maneuvers for the mediastinal region, techniques for normalizing the tone of the thoracic diaphragm and its pillars, on the peritoneal ligaments, and caudal traction of the stomach for manual correction of hiatal hernia.

OTHERControl

The physiotherapeutic treatment on the control group consists of an approach to the lumbopelvic joint restrictions and a massage on the inframesocolic abdominal region with minimal pressure, which does not affect the activity and position of the stomach.

Sponsors

Corporacion Parc Tauli
CollaboratorOTHER
Escoles Universitaries Gimbernat
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux disease (Vakil et al, 2006) * Age between 18 and 90 years. * Patients with GERD due to hiatal hernia type I, without surgical indication. * Patients with GERD due to hiatal hernia type I, with surgical indication on the waiting list. * Patients with GERD due to hiatal hernia type I, with surgical contraindication.

Exclusion criteria

* That fail to meet inclusion criteria. * Patients treated with Benzodiazepines (BZD) * Patients with previous surgical interventions at the abdominal level, especially of supramesocolic structures * Patients diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus * Patients with paraesophageal and mixed hiatus hernias * Diagnosed erosive esophagitis * Active neoplasm * Serious psychiatric disorders * Neuromuscular or neurological injuries * Aneurysms * Pregnancy * Hemophilia or treatment with anticoagulant therapy * Hypersensitivity of the skin or dermatological diseases in the trunk that prevent the performance of the techniques * Rejection of manual contact

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Impact of GERD (Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease)8 weeksUsing The Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease Impact scale (GIS).The GIS impact assessment scale consists of 9 items that refer to the frequency during the last week of 5 possible symptoms of GERD, the impact on sleep, food or drink intake, work or activities of daily living and the need to use medications in addition to those prescribed by your doctor (from daily to never on a 4-point Likert-type scale). The Gis scale score ranges from 1 to 4, the higher the score, the better the patient's condition. The scale was validated in Spanish in 2008. (New, Tafalla et al, 2008).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Impact of GERD (Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease)8 weeksUsing the Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease impact assessment scale used by gastroenterology team of the CSPT (Corporación Sanitaria Parc Taulí), aims to objectify GERD symptoms using a 0-10 range. The symptoms generated exclusively by the Reflux will be chosen: heartburn, regurgitation, cough, aphonia, epigastralgia. The maximum sum of the items on the scale is 50 points, indicating maximum severity. The value 0 points would indicate a minimal impact of the disease.
Quality of life in patients with GERD8 weeksFor the collection of specific data on the quality of life of the patients, the QOLRAD scale will be used, this scale contains 25 items, in which the patient is asked about the effect of gastrointestinal symptoms on quality of life. Establishing the relationship with: emotional well-being, sleep, vitality, food and drink, and physical/social functioning. The patient answers the questionnaire about the frequency of these effects in relation to the last week, using a 7-point Likert scale ranging from all the time/very much to never/not at all. Low scores indicate significant impairment in daily functioning (Kulich KR et al, 2005)

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026