Cupping Therapy for Neck Pain in Cervical Spondylosis

May 23, 2025 updated by: Dang Ngoc Ha Phuong, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Effectiveness of Cupping Therapy in Managing Neck Pain and Improving Cervical Mobility in Cervical Spondylosis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Cervical spondylosis is one of the common causes of chronic neck pain. It can significantly affect the quality of life, lead to disabilities, and increase the economic burden on patients. Treatment mainly includes pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants or physical therapy. The condition tends to recur frequently; therefore, long-term use of medication can lead to unwanted effects on the digestive system, kidneys, and cardiovascular system.

Dry cupping therapy is a non-pharmacological method that has been shown to be effective in pain management. Cupping therapy has the advantage of being applicable to patients who are afraid of needles and has a wide area of effect.

Given the limitations in evaluating treatment effectiveness and safety, along with the lack of published research discussing the analgesic effects of dry cupping for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis, the investigators conducted the study on pain reduction and safety of cupping therapy in patients with neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Patients diagnosed with cervical spondylosis who have neck pain will be registered for this study. They will be treated with electroacupuncture or cupping therapy.

The intervention period is two weeks. Electroacupuncture will be performed five times a week while cupping therapy will be performed once every 3 days.

Data on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and side effects of electroacupuncture and cupping therapy will be recorded before the study and weekly for 2 weeks.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

82

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals between the ages of 20 and 60 years, outpatient treatment.
  • Individuals diagnosed with cervical spondylosis.
  • Individuals report pain intensity between 3 and 8 according to on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) on the screening visit day.
  • Experiencing neck pain for no longer than four weeks.
  • Individuals who volunteered to participate in the study and signed a consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients diagnosed with acute or chronic neck pain due to specific causes or with root compression syndrome, spinal cord compression syndrome, or vertebral artery syndrome.
  • Patients loss of normal cervical curvature or deformity.
  • Individuals with a history of neck trauma, cervical vertebra fracture, or cervical spine surgery, congenital spinal abnormalities, systemic bone and joint diseases.
  • Patients have undergone cupping therapy, plastering, or drug inhalation within one week prior to participating in the study.
  • Patients used of medications that could affect research outcomes within one week: Pain relievers, muscle relaxants, traditional medicines for treating neck pain.
  • Patients suffer from a mental illness or lacks consciousness.
  • Patients have a pacemaker, or any metal devices such as screws or plates.
  • Patients currently using anticoagulant medications or has a bleeding disorder.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dry cupping Group
Dry cupping therapy every 3 days for a total of two weeks (5 sessions)
Other: Dry cupping therapy
Dry cupping therapy will perform on the skin areas containing the EX-B2, A-shi, and GB21 acupuncture points every 3 days for 2 weeks.
Active Comparator: Electroacupuncture Group
Electroacupuncture five times a week for a total of two weeks (10 sessions)
Other: Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture therapy will be performed five times a week for 2 weeks. The acupoints are the Huatuojiaji (EX-B2), A-shi, and Jianjing (GB21).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The change of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Assessments were conducted before intervention and after each intervention week throughout the two weeks (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2)
Symptom scores will be assessed based on a visual analogue scale (VAS). It usually consists of a 10 cm line anchored at each end by descriptors. Patients will be classified into 1 of 4 groups (no pain (0 cm), mild pain (1-3 cm), moderate pain (4-7 cm), severe pain (8-10 cm)).
Assessments were conducted before intervention and after each intervention week throughout the two weeks (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of intervention-related adverse events
Time Frame: Assessments were conducted after each intervention week throughout the two weeks.
While dry cupping therapy and electroacupuncture is generally considered safe, some patients may experience minor side effects at the application site. These can include ecchymosis or burns. Rarely, more serious complications like dizziness, headaches, and fatigue may occur. The study will closely monitor and document any unexpected adverse events associated with the procedure.
Assessments were conducted after each intervention week throughout the two weeks.
Active range of motion of the cervical spine
Time Frame: Assessments were conducted before intervention and after each intervention week throughout the two weeks (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2)
Active range of motion is measured using a goniometer. During measurement, the patient sits upright with hips and knees flexed at 90 degrees, both feet flat on the floor, and arms relaxed alongside the body. Cervical spine movements include flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, and left and right rotation.
Assessments were conducted before intervention and after each intervention week throughout the two weeks (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 18, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 18, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 29, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 23, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 247/2024/HD-DHYD

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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