Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01289964

The Effect of 5 Times Dry Cupping in the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain

The study aims to investigate the influence of 5 dry cupping treatments on chronic non specific neck pain. 50 patients with neck pain are randomised into cupping treatment and waiting list control group at T0 (Day 0). At T1 (Day 7)the investigators evaluate the neck pain (VAS), the neck related disability (NDI), pain related to movement (PRTM) and the quality of life (SF36). To investigate neurophysiological effects of cupping we also measure mechanical detection threshold (MDT), vibration detection threshold (VDT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) at pain related and control areas. The treatment group then receives 5 cupping treatments over a period of two weeks. After the cupping series resp. a waiting period for the waiting list control group (T2, Day 25) all measurements from T1 are repeated (VAS, NDI, PRTM, SF36, MDT, PPT, VDT). At last, a pain and medication diary is filled in by the patients from T0(Day 0) until T2 (Day 25). The investigators hypothesize, that cupping treatment is effective against neck pain (diary, VAS, NDI, PRTM, SF36) and that it leads to changes on perceptual level (MDT, VDT, PPT), when compared to the waiting list control group.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Mechanical/Motor Problems With Neck and Trunk Neck Pain Musculoskeletal Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Knappschaftskrankenhaus

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45276, Germany

About this study

see above

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • age between 18 and 75
  • permanent neck pain for at least three months in a row
  • a minimum of 40mm of neck pain on a 100mm visual analogue scale (VAS)
  • having been in treatment to an orthopaedic or to a neurologist

Exclusion criteria

  • neck pain caused by trauma, inflammatory or malignant disease, by congenital malformation of the spine or if pain was accompanied by radicular symptoms such as radiating pain, paresis, prickling or tingling.
  • invasive treatments within the last 4 weeks, surgery to the spine within the last year, corticosteroid or opioid treatment.
  • serious acute or chronic organic disease such as diabetes or cancer, mental disorders, pregnancy, and haemorrhagic tendency or anticoagulation treatment.
  • non steroidal pain medication and physiotherapy were allowed if the treatment regimen was not altered for four weeks before and continued during the study.

Treatment and study plan

Dry Cupping or fire cupping

Procedure

5 dry cupping treatments, application twice a week, non standardised procedure

Other names: Cupping is: heating glas cups to create a vacuum on the skin

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity

    Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

    100mm Visual Analogue Scale

Secondary outcomes

  1. pain related to movement

    Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

    100mm Visual Analogue Scale for 6 movement directions (Irnich, BMJ 2001)

  2. pain diary

    Time frame: from T0 (Day 0) to T2 (Day25)

    Daily rating of pain intensity (numeric rating scale from 0-10)

  3. Neck disability index

    Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

    NDI measures neck pain complaints (Vernon und Mior 1991)

  4. Quality of Life SF-36

    Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

    the sf-36 is a short form health survey consisting of 8 scales to measure functional health and wellbeing (Bullinger & Kirchberger 1998)

  5. mechanical detection threshold MDT

    Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

    by von Frey filaments to measure perception threshold for light touch (Rolke, Pain, 2006)

  6. vibration detection threshold VDT

    Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

    with a tuning fork to measure perception threshold for vibration (Rolke, Pain, 2006)

  7. pressure pain threshold PPT

    Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

    with a pressure gauge algometer to determine threshold for painful pressure (Rolke, Pain, 2006) on the area of maximal neck pain, the adjacent and hand and foot

  8. Side effects

    Time frame: from T1 (Day 7) to T2 (Day 25)

    open question on any side effects or other experiences with the treatment

  9. Medication diary

    Time frame: From T0 (Day 0) to T2 (Day 25)

    patient report used medication during the study period (amount, dose)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universität Duisburg-Essen

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Randomised Controlled Pilot Study: the Effect of Dry Cupping on Pain and Sensory Thresholds in the Treatment of Chronic Non Specific Neck Pain

Acronym: TS

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Feb 4, 2011
Registry last updated
Aug 19, 2011

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.