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NCT Number: NCT05459376

Effect of Dry Cupping Therapy Associated With the McKenzie Method in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Introduction: Currently, clinical practice guidelines recommend exercise as a first-line approach to the treatment of chronic low back pain (LBP). On the other hand, passive techniques such as cupping therapy have gained space in the management of this population, however, important gaps regarding the combination of cupping therapy with active exercises in individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain are still present in the literature. In this context, this protocol describes a sham-controlled, randomized and blinded study that aims to evaluate the additional effects of cupping therapy in association with McKenzie method exercises on pain and functional outcomes of individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Methods: 108 individuals with nonspecific and localized chronic low back pain in the age group of 18 to 59 years will be recruited and evaluated, regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subsequently, they will be randomized to one of 2 groups: intervention group, in which they will be submitted to the McKenzie method intervention and later the addition of the dry suction cup; and sham group, in which, after the intervention of the McKenzie method, the application of the sham cup will be added.

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Key information

Conditions

Low Back Pain Back Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–59 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Marcelo Cardoso de Souza

Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, 59200-000, Brazil

About this study

The individuals will be classified and treated according to the McKenzie method (MDT) and then they will receive the application of cups in parallel to the vertebrae from L1 to L5, bilaterally. Interventions will be carried out twice a week for eight weeks. Volunteers will be evaluated before treatment (T0), immediately after the first intervention (T1), with 4 weeks of intervention (T4) and with 8 weeks of intervention (T8)

The individuals will be classified and treated according to the McKenzie method and then they will receive the application of cups in parallel to the vertebrae from L1 to L5, bilaterally. Interventions will be carried out twice a week for eight weeks. Volunteers will be evaluated before treatment (T0), immediately after the first intervention (T1), with 4 weeks of intervention (T4) and with 8 weeks of intervention (T8). The primary outcome will be physical function, functionality (Timed Up and Go test), while the secondary outcomes will be pain intensity (Numerical Pain Scale), lumbar range of motion (finger to floor test), patient expectation and patient perception (Global Perceived Effect Scale).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Individuals, male and female, 18 to 59 years, non-obese, with non-specific localized LBP for more than 3 months;
  • Report pain intensity between 3 and 8 according to the numerical pain scale;

Exclusion criteria

  • Have previously performed cupping therapy in some body segment;
  • Present neurological, vestibular, visual or auditory deficits that make assessments impossible;
  • Being in the gestational period;
  • Having severe spinal disease (including fractures, tumour, inflammatory diseases, or tumours);
  • Have undergone previous spinal surgery;
  • Present with radiating or sacroiliac back pain; another rheumatic disease such as fibromyalgia,or ankylosing spondylitis.

Treatment and study plan

Exercises and dry cupping

Other

Participants in the intervention group will receive an assessment, classification as to MDT syndrome and indication of the preferred direction of movement, whether flexion, extension or lateral displacement of the spine

Other names: exercises

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Disability - ODI

    Time frame: baseline and 8 weeks after

    The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire will be used to analyze disability in people with low back pain.This instrument contains 10 items that assess the impact of low back pain on various functional activities. Values range from 0 to 5, with the highest value indicating greater disability. The final result is the sum of all items. The validated version in Portuguese is used.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change Numerical Pain Scale - NPS

    Time frame: baseline, immediately after 1 intervention, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention

    The pain will be measured by the Numerical Pain Scale (NPS). Patients will be asked to circle the number between 0 and 10, zero represents "no pain", while the upper limit represents "the worst possible pain". The NPS score will be collected with the individual at rest, during the assessment of trunk range of motion and during the execution of the Timed Up and Go test.

  2. Change in Functional test - Timed Up and Go (TUG)

    Time frame: baseline and 8 weeks after

    Functional test: Timed Up and Go (TUG): is a functional test that quantifies the mobility of an individual in seconds through the time he performs the task, that is, how many seconds he gets up from a chair, walks 3 meters, turns, goes back to the chair and stands again. The test was primarily designed to assess risk of falls in the elderly, with the following scores: less than 20 seconds for performance, corresponding to low risk of falling, 20 to 29 seconds, medium risk of falls, and 30 seconds or more, a high risk of falling. The subject will take the test 3 times and the average of the 3 trials will be noted.

  3. Change in Trunk range of motion - Range of motion (ROM)

    Time frame: baseline, immediately after 1 intervention, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention

    Trunk range of motion: Range of motion (ROM) will be measured using the finger-to-floor test. It has high reliability and can be used for clinical practice and scientific studies.The finger-to-floor test is performed with the subject standing upright and with feet together. The participant will be asked to lean forward as much as possible, keeping the knees, arms and fingers fully extended. The vertical distance between the tip of the middle finger and the floor is measured with a tape measure.

  4. Change in participant perception

    Time frame: baseline and 8 weeks after

    The Brazilian version of the Global Perceived Effect Scale will assess participant self-perception of interventions. It uses a scale of 11 points ranging from a negative five (extremely worse) to a positive five (completely recovered) compared with baseline

  5. Change in participant expectation

    Time frame: baseline

    A Likert-type scale will be used to assess the expectation of participants regarding the treatment. The following question will be used: "Do you think that with the application of dry cupping therapy, you will: (1) get much worse, (2) get a little worse, (3) get neithe better nor worse, (4) get a little better, or (5) get a lot better."

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Germanna B Medeiros, PT, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

55 84 3342 2287

Marcelo C de Souza, PT, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

55 84 3342-2385

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Dry Cupping Therapy Associated With the McKenzie Method in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: Protocol for a Sham-controlled Randomized Trial

Acronym: MDTDryCup

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jul 15, 2022
Registry last updated
Apr 2, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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