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

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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Low Back Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercises and dry cupping

Detailed Description

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).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Marcelo C de Souza, PT, PhD; Phone Number: 55 84 3342-2385; Email: marcelo.cardoso@ufrn.br
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Germanna B Medeiros, PT, PhD; Phone Number: 55 84 3342 2287; Email: contato@facisa.ufrn.br

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • RN
    • Natal, RN, Brazil, 59200-000
      • Marcelo Cardoso de Souza
      • Contact: Marcelo C de Souza, Professor; Phone Number: 55(84) 3342-2287; Email: marcellogv@hotmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 59 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

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.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group; Participants in the intervention group will receive an assessment, classification as to McKenzie method (MDT) syndrome and indication of the preferred direction of movement, whether flexion, extension or lateral displacement of the spine ; will receive basic information about low back pain (LBP), its prevalence and prognosis; plus how and why to exercise; and types of responses that may occur in response to the exercise program. Guidance for performing the exercises at home. Dry suction cup application with 6 size 1 acrylic cups (4.5 cm internal diameter) with a distance of 3 cm each cup, parallel to the L1 to L5 vertebrae, bilaterally according to the acupoint boundaries, B23, B24 and B25 . This group will consist of performing MDT exercises and dry cupping with 2 suctions for 10 minutes, 2 times a week, for 8 weeks.	Other: Exercises and dry cupping; 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
Sham Comparator: Sham Group; The sham group will follow the same principles of evaluation, classification and intervention according to the McKenzie method (MDT) (described in the intervention group) and will have a placebo dry cup application with 6 size 1 acrylic cups (4.5 cm internal diameter) with a distance of 3 cm each cup, parallel to the vertebrae L1 to L5, bilaterally . This group will consist of placebo dry cupping for 10 minutes, 2 times a week, for 8 weeks. However, cups will be prepared with small holes <2 mm in diameter to release negative pressure in seconds.	Other: Exercises and dry cupping; 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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Disability - ODI	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.	baseline and 8 weeks after

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change Numerical Pain Scale - NPS	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.	baseline, immediately after 1 intervention, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention
Change in Functional test - Timed Up and Go (TUG)	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.	baseline and 8 weeks after
Change in Trunk range of motion - Range of motion (ROM)	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.	baseline, immediately after 1 intervention, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention
Change in participant perception	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	baseline and 8 weeks after
Change in participant expectation	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."	baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Marcelo C de Souza, PT, PhD, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Almeida Silva HJ, Barbosa GM, Scattone Silva R, Saragiotto BT, Oliveira JMP, Pinheiro YT, Lins CAA, de Souza MC. Dry cupping therapy is not superior to sham cupping to improve clinical outcomes in people with non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomised trial. J Physiother. 2021 Apr;67(2):132-139. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2021.02.013. Epub 2021 Mar 20.
• Almeida Silva HJ, Avila MA, Castro KMS, Pinheiro YT, Lins CAA, Medeiros Barbosa G, de Souza MC. Exploring patient experiences of participating in a real and sham dry cupping intervention for nonspecific low back pain: A qualitative study. PLoS One. 2022 May 19;17(5):e0268656. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268656. eCollection 2022.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 11, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 13, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): July 15, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: UFRNMDTDryCupping

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: there is not a plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available to other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No