COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF DIAPHRAGMATIC MYOFASCIAL RELEASE VERSUS DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING IN POST-OPERATIVE PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH GASTRO ESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD)

Background: GERD is a short form of “Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease”. It is a condition characterized by backflow of food particles from stomach to food pipe and associated symptoms. Objective: To determine the comparative effects of Diaphragmatic breathing exercises and diaphragm atic myofascial release in post-operative patients diagnosed with GERD. Methodology: We distributed participants through clinical trial. Postoperative patients diagnosed with GERD were studied. Sample size was 28. Patients were allocated to two treatment groups A and B by lottery method. Group A was treated with diaphragmatic myofascial release and Group B was treated with diaphragmatic breathing exercise. Reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) was used as primary outcome measure for GERD. The secondary outcome measure was gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) Result: A cross group analysis revealed that there was statistical significant difference in post treatment values of GSRS and RDQ, with p values of 0.001and 0.001 respectively. Conclusion: Diaphragmatic myofascial release is more effective than diaphragmatic breathing exercises in reducing the severity of GERD symptoms and improving quality of life in postoperative patients diagnosed with GERD.