Effects of Scalene Muscle Stretching on Slow Vital Capacity and Chest Expansion in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: An Interventional Study

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a coronary revascularization technique associated with diminished pulmonary function. During the first week after CABG, slow vital capacity (SVC) decreases by 30%–60%. Scalene muscles affect pulmonary function because they attach to the 1^st and 2^nd ribs. Shorter scalene muscles can decrease inhalation volume and chest expansion. Very few studies have assessed the effects of scalene stretching on SVC and chest expansion in patients post-CABG. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the effects of scalene muscle stretching on SVC and chest expansion in such patients.

A total of 74 patients post-CABG (phase 2) meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to two groups: an intervention group (n = 30) performing scalene muscle stretching and a control group (n = 30) performing active neck exercise. Pre & Post SVC and chest expansion were measured in all patients. A total of 14 patients were excluded. Statistical analysis was conducted in SPSS software (version 20.0).

SVC showed significant increase (P < 0.05) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Chest expansion was statistically non-significant between groups (P > 0.05).

Scalene muscle stretching improves SVC in patients post-CABG (phase 2). Hence, scalene stretching should be included in programs for improving respiratory function.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0089

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Miral Vyas, Mihir Mehta and Falak Oza et al. Effects of Scalene Muscle Stretching on Slow Vital Capacity and Chest Expansion in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: An Interventional Study. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0089