Jun 26, 2025

Effectiveness of IASTM and MFR in Mechanical Low Back Pain

  • 1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology;
  • 2Department of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science & Technology
  • Jashore University of Science and Technology
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Protocol CitationAli Hossain, K M Amran Hossain 2025. Effectiveness of IASTM and MFR in Mechanical Low Back Pain. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv5owong1b/v1
License: This is an open access  protocol  distributed under the terms of the  Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: June 25, 2025
Last Modified: June 26, 2025
Protocol  Integer ID: 220977
Keywords: Thoracolumbar Fascia, Mechanical Low Back Pain, IASTM, Myofascial Release, Ultrasound Imaging, RCT, Fascia, Thoracolumbar Fascia Dysfunction, future physiotherapy techniques for thoracolumbar fascia dysfunction, thoracolumbar fascia dysfunction, mfr in mechanical low back pain, thoracolumbar fascia, morphological changes of thoracolumbar fascia, mechanical low back pain, pain reduction, mfr on pain, future physiotherapy technique, effectiveness of iastm, physiotherapy, iastm, weekly iastm session, receiving mfr, receiving weekly iastm session, significant changes in tlf morphology
Abstract
It is a randomized clinical trial that will compare the effectiveness of IASTM and MFR on pain and morphological changes of thoracolumbar fascia in mechanical low back pain. All the participants will be randomized into two groups: one receiving weekly IASTM sessions for 4 weeks, and the other receiving MFR 3 times/week over the same period.
This study will provide evidence on finding the significant changes in TLF morphology and pain reduction between two interventions. Findings may guide future physiotherapy techniques for thoracolumbar fascia dysfunction.
Materials
Tools:
1. Ultrasound Imaging
2. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
3. Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)
4. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
5. Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)
Protocol references
1. Langevin, H.M., Fox, J.R., Koptiuch, C. et al. Reduced thoracolumbar fascia shear strain in human chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12, 203 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-203

2. Vining, R., Onifer, S. M., Twist, E., Ziegler, A., Corber, L., & Long, C. R. (2023). Thoracolumbar fascia mobility and chronic low back pain: Phase 1 of a pilot and feasibility study assessing repeated measures and the influence of paraspinal muscle contraction. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 34, 19–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.004

3. Vining R, Onifer SM, Twist E, Ziegler AM, Corber L, Long CR. Thoracolumbar fascia mobility and chronic low back pain: Phase 2 of a pilot and feasibility study including multimodal chiropractic care. Chiropr Man Therap. 2022 Oct 21;30(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12998-022-00455-z. PMID: 36271428; PMCID: PMC9587561.

4. Willard FH, Vleeming A, Schuenke MD, Danneels L, Schleip R. The thoracolumbar fascia: anatomy, function and clinical considerations. J Anat. 2012 Dec;221(6):507-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01511.x. Epub 2012 May 27. PMID: 22630613; PMCID: PMC3512278.

5. George T, De Jesus O. Physiology, Fascia. [Updated 2023 Mar 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568725/

6. Wilke J, Schleip R, Klingler W, Stecco C. The Lumbodorsal Fascia as a Potential Source of Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:5349620. doi: 10.1155/2017/5349620. Epub 2017 May 11. PMID: 28584816; PMCID: PMC5444000.

7. Bishop JH, Fox JR, Maple R, Loretan C, Badger GJ, Henry SM, Vizzard MA, Langevin HM. Ultrasound Evaluation of the Combined Effects of Thoracolumbar Fascia Injury and Movement Restriction in a Porcine Model. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 28;11(1):e0147393. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147393. PMID: 26820883; PMCID: PMC4731465.

8. Tamartash H, Bahrpeyma F, Mokhtari Dizaji M. Ultrasound evidence of altered lumbar fascia in patients with low back pain. Clin Anat. 2023 Jan;36(1):36-41. doi: 10.1002/ca.23964. Epub 2022 Oct 24. PMID: 36199243.

9. Larivière C, Preuss R, Gagnon DH, Mecheri H, Driscoll M, Henry SM. The relationship between clinical examination measures and ultrasound measures of fascia thickness surrounding trunk muscles or lumbar multifidus fatty infiltrations: An exploratory study. J Anat. 2023 Apr;242(4):666-682. doi: 10.1111/joa.13807. Epub 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36521728; PMCID: PMC10008298.

10. Yerli S, Yinanç SB, Yağcı G, Erbahçeci F, Özçakar L. Thoracolumbar fascia and chronic low back pain in idiopathic lumbar scoliosis: an ultrasonographic study. Eur Spine J. 2024 Jun;33(6):2469-2475. doi: 10.1007/s00586-024-08266-x. Epub 2024 Apr 23. PMID: 38653872.
Acknowledgements
This study will be partially funded by the department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of Jashore University of Science and Technology.