Effect of crossed-hands myofascial induction on thoracolumbar fascia stiffness, thickness, and alignment

Objective: To evaluate the acute effects of Crossed-Hands Myofascial Induction Therapy (MIT) on the Stiffness, Thickness, and Alignment of the Thoracolumbar Fascia. Methods: A non-randomized clinical trial was conducted with a group of 24 healthy participants. Participants received a single session of MIT using the cross-hands technique. Fascial stiffness (measured with a durometer), thickness (measured with ultrasound), and alignment (assessed with ultrasound) were evaluated pre-and post-intervention. Results: A decrease in fascial disorganization (from 68 % to 32 %, p = 0.03) was observed. Fascial stiffness decreased in the thoracic region (from 11.1 kPa to 9.5 kPa, p = 0.04) and in the lumbar region (from 7.6 to 5.9 kPa, p = 0.02) but showed no significant changes in thickness. Conclusion: MIT demonstrated acute effects on thoracolumbar fascia alignment and stiffness, suggesting its potential benefits for addressing conditions related to fascial dysfunction. However, caution is warranted due to the small sample size. Consequently, it is recommended to conduct studies with a larger sample size, increased number of sessions, and randomization to enhance the external validity of the findings.