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

Universität Duisburg-Essen50 enrolled

Overview

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.

see above

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Neck Pain Neck Pain Musculoskeletal

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain intensity

100mm Visual Analogue Scale

Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

Secondary Outcomes

pain related to movement

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

Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

pain diary

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

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

Neck disability index

NDI measures neck pain complaints (Vernon und Mior 1991)

Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

Quality of Life SF-36

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

Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

mechanical detection threshold MDT

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

Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

vibration detection threshold VDT

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

Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

pressure pain threshold PPT

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

Time frame: at T2 (Day 25)

Side effects

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

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

Medication diary

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

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

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

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes