Home Use of Cupping Massage in Chronic Neck Pain (NaSK)

Randomised Controlled Study on the Effectiveness of Cupping Massage for Home Use in Chronic Neck Pain [Randomisierte Kontrollierte Studie Zur Wirksamkeit Der Schröpfkopfmassage Als Heimanwendung Bei Chronischen Nackenschmerzen]

The purpose of this randomized controlled study is to determine the effectiveness of cupping massage as home use for patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain compared to relaxation exercise.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: cupping massage; Procedure: Progressive muscle relaxation

Detailed Description

see above

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 84
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Essen, Germany
    • Klinik für Naturheilkunde

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• mean neck pain intensity 45mm
• neck pain for at least 3 months
• age 18-75
• partner or friend for the application of the massage

Exclusion Criteria:

• specific neck pain due to trauma, neurological disorder, prolapse, operation, cancer
• severe deformity of the spine
• skin disease, allergy on the neck area
• hemophilia, anticoagulation, antiplatelet disorder
• severe psychiatric disorder
• severe comorbidity
• regular intake of opiates and corticosteroids >10mg prednisolon
• pregnancy
• participation in other clinical trials

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: cupping massage; 12 weeks home use of cupping massage (delivered by the partner or friend) twice a week for 20 minutes	Procedure: cupping massage; the upper back is covered in massage oil the cupping glass is drawn along the back muscles
Active Comparator: control group; progressive muscle relaxation twice a week for 20 minutes	Procedure: Progressive muscle relaxation; standardized programme on muscle relaxation according to Jacobson

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Intensity	Pain intensity on a 100mm visual analogue scale	T2 (84 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain diary	Pain intensity on a visual analogue scale	week 12
pain intensity in motion	Pain intensity induced by flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation of the head	T2 (84 days)
pain quality	sensory and affective pain quality, questionnaire	T2 (84 days)
well being	Well being measured by questionnaire (FEW16)	T2 (84 days)
Quality of life	measured by the SF-36	T2 (84 days)
Stress perception	Measured by the PSQ20	T2 (84 days)
Control belief	measured by the GKÜ (questionnaire on control beliefs)	T2 (84 days)
Pressure pain threshold	pressure pain threshold measured with an algometer on predefined muscles and the pain maximum	T2 (84 days)
Safety	all adverse events are recorded	T2(84 days)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Thomas Rampp, MD, Chair of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lauche R, Materdey S, Cramer H, Haller H, Stange R, Dobos G, Rampp T. Effectiveness of home-based cupping massage compared to progressive muscle relaxation in patients with chronic neck pain--a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2013 Jun 7;8(6):e65378. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065378. Print 2013.

Helpful Links

• Homepage "Klinik für Naturheilkunde"

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 22, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): December 28, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 9, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 8, 2013
• Last Verified: October 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: NaSK