The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Universität Duisburg-Essen50 enrolled

Overview

The study aims to investigate the influence of 5 cupping massage treatments on chronic non specific neck pain. 50 patients with neck pain are randomised into cupping treatment and waiting list control group. Before and after the intervention the investigators evaluate the neck pain (VAS), the neck related disability (NDI), pain on movement (POM) and the quality of life (SF36) and safety. To investigate neurophysiological effects of cupping the investigators also measure mechanical detection threshold (MDT), vibration detection threshold (VDT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) and the two point discrimination threshold at pain related and control areas. The treatment group receives 5 cupping treatments over a period of 3 weeks.

see above

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Neck Pain Mechanical/Motor Problems With Neck and Trunk

Interventions

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) 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 from 0mm 'no pain' to 100mm 'maximal pain'

Time frame: 3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Pain on movement (POM)

100mm Visual Analogue Scale from 0mm 'no pain' to 100mm 'maximal pain' Intensity rated for 6 movement directions flexion, tension, and rotation

Time frame: 3 weeks

Neck disability index

NDI measures neck pain complaints (Vernon und Mior 1991)

Time frame: 3 weeks

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: 3 weeks

mechanical detection threshold MDT

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

Time frame: 3 weeks

vibration detection threshold VDT

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

Time frame: 3 weeks

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: 3 weeks

Adverse events

Number of patients with adverse events

Time frame: 3 weeks

two point discrimination threshold

using a pair of circles, determining the distance necessary between those to perceive them as separate sensations

Time frame: 3 weeks

The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes