Effectiveness of Dry Needling Versus Cupping Therapy for Pain in Piriformis Syndrome

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of two popular therapeutic interventions, dry needling and cupping therapy, in alleviating pain associated with Piriformis Syndrome. Piriformis Syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder caused by the compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle, leading to buttock pain and radiating numbness.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Piriformis Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Dry Needling Group; Other: Cupping Therapy Group

Detailed Description

The study will recruit participants diagnosed with Piriformis Syndrome and will randomly assign them to receive either dry needling or cupping therapy over a specific period. The primary outcome will be the reduction in pain intensity measured by standardized pain assessment tools. Secondary outcomes will include improvements in functional mobility and quality of life. By analyzing the efficacy and patient-reported outcomes of both therapies, the study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians treating Piriformis Syndrome.

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

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
      • Ghurkee Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged between 18 to 65 years.
• Diagnosed with piriformis syndrome.
• Experiencing chronic pain for at least 3 months.
• Willingness to comply with the study protocol and attend all therapy sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent surgery on the lower back or hip.
• Presence of systemic diseases affecting muscle function (e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis).
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Use of anticoagulant medication or having a bleeding disorder.
• Participating in another clinical trial simultaneously

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dry Needling Group	Diagnostic test: Dry Needling Group; Participants in this group will receive dry needling therapy. This involves inserting thin needles into trigger points in the piriformis muscle to relieve pain and muscle tension. The therapy will be administered twice a week for 4 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes.
Other: Cupping Therapy Group	Other: Cupping Therapy Group; Participants in this group will receive cupping therapy. This involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which is believed to improve blood flow and reduce muscle tension. The therapy will be administered twice a week for 4 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)	Participants will rate their pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) at the beginning and end of the study.	12 Months
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)	This tool assesses the degree of disability in performing daily activities. Quality of life improvements measured by the SF-36 Health Survey, which evaluates physical and mental health status.	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Superior University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 25, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 25, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): May 31, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 31, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 25, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Disease; Neuromuscular Diseases; Sciatic Neuropathy; Mononeuropathies; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuralgia; Nerve Compression Syndromes; Pelvic Pain; Syndrome; Piriformis Muscle Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: MSRSW/Batch-Fall22/715

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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