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DRY NEEDLING VS. CUPPING THERAPY IN MPS

30 juni 2026 uppdaterad av: Fatma Nur BULDUK, Turkish League Against Rheumatism

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DRY NEEDLING AND CUPPING THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME: A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of dry needling and cupping therapy in patients diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome involving the trapezius, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and levator scapulae muscles. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS), the number of trigger points, the Likert satisfaction scale, and the multidimensional quality of life scale.

Studieöversikt

Status

Avslutad

Detaljerad beskrivning

This study evaluated the effectiveness of dry needling (DN) and cupping therapy in 92 patients with chronic myofascial pain syndrome. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving a 10-session cupping regimen and the other undergoing a three-session dry needling protocol, with both groups performing home-based exercises.

Results showed that both treatments significantly reduced pain and improved patient outcomes over three months. When compared directly, cupping therapy was more effective at reducing trigger points and improving overall quality of life. Conversely, dry needling resulted in higher levels of patient satisfaction. In conclusion, both methods are valuable tools for managing myofascial pain, and the choice of treatment may depend on whether the clinical priority is physical symptom relief or patient preference. Further research is recommended to better define the specific long-term applications of these therapies.

Studietyp

Interventionell

Inskrivning (Faktisk)

92

Fas

  • Inte tillämpbar

Kontakter och platser

Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.

Studieorter

Deltagandekriterier

Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.

Urvalskriterier

Åldrar som är berättigade till studier

  • Vuxen

Tar emot friska volontärer

Nej

Beskrivning

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Back pain lasting more than three months
  • At least one palpable myofascial TN in the trapezius, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and/or levator scapulae muscles
  • Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior dry needling treatment
  • Prior cupping therapy
  • Severe cognitive dysfunction
  • Spinal fracture
  • Infection
  • Malignancy
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Central nervous system injury
  • Psychiatric disorder
  • Diseases causing tissue degeneration
  • Conditions associated with spasticity or cerebrovascular disease
  • Cervical radiculopathy due to structural abnormalities
  • Muscle or tendon injuries of the shoulder or neck
  • Fibromyalgia or other conditions presenting with symptoms similar to myofascial pain syndrome
  • Use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy
  • Thrombocytopenia or hemorrhagic disorders
  • A history of surgery or blood donation within the previous three months
  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding
  • Presence of renal, hepatic, or severe cardiovascular disease

Studieplan

Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.

Hur är studien utformad?

Designdetaljer

  • Primärt syfte: Behandling
  • Tilldelning: Randomiserad
  • Interventionsmodell: Parallellt uppdrag
  • Maskning: Ingen (Open Label)

Vapen och interventioner

Deltagargrupp / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Aktiv komparator: Cupping therapy arm
Dry cupping was conducted 3 times per week for 9 sessions, followed by one session of wet cupping at the tenth session.
In the tenth session, wet cupping was performed directly over the patients' TNs. In addition to the TNs, wet cupping was also applied at the Dazhui DU-14 point in all patients. Before initiating the procedure, the treatment area was disinfected with alcohol. Sterile single-use cups numbered 5 and 6 were applied to the treatment area. After 3 to 5 minutes, the cups were removed one at a time. After the area was cleaned, a No. 15 scalpel blade was used to make shallow vertical cuts at the cupping site. Afterward, the cups were returned to the same places. The procedure was performed three times without making any new cuts. The blood was drained, and the cups were put back on. The entire procedure lasted approximately 20 min. The cups were removed at the end of the procedure, and the area that had been treated was cleaned and covered properly.
Aktiv komparator: Dry needling arm
Participants in this arm received three sessions of dry needling, administered once per week.
Needling was performed while the TNs in the levator scapulae, supraspinatus, and upper part of the trapezius muscles were sitting. Patients were placed in the prone position for the middle and lower parts of the trapezius and infraspinatus muscles. To increase the accuracy of localization and minimize the risk of injury to nearby structures, needling was performed under ultrasound guidance. We used the Esaote MyLab 60 ultrasound machine that we have in our clinic for this. Standard single-use sterile acupuncture needles (0.25 mm × 25 mm) were used.

Vad mäter studien?

Primära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Visual analog scale
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the first month
The VAS score was used to measure pain intensity in each patient. Patients were told to rate their pain on a 10-cm horizontal line for the VAS test. A score of 0 indicated no pain, a score of 5 indicated moderate pain, and a score of 10 indicated the worst pain.
From enrollment to the end of the first month
Trigger points count
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the first month
Trigger points were identified in the trapezius, levator scapulae, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus muscles by the presence of a hypersensitive spot within a palpable taut band, accompanied by a visible or palpable LTR and/or reproduction of referred pain upon palpation of the sensitive point.
From enrollment to the end of the first month
Multidimensional quality of life score
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the first month
The multidimensional quality of life scale includes a total of 35 items and assesses nine subdomains, each with four items. The overall score is obtained by summing the responses to all the items. Each item is given a score from 1 to 7, with a total score of 35 to 245. Higher scores indicate better functional status.
From enrollment to the end of the first month
Likert satisfaction scale
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the first month
Patient satisfaction was assessed using a Likert scale, where participants were asked to rate their experience by selecting one of the following options: none, mild, moderately good, good, or very good.
From enrollment to the end of the first month

Sekundära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Visual analog scale
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the third month
The VAS score was used to measure pain intensity in each patient. Patients were told to rate their pain on a 10-cm horizontal line for the VAS test. A score of 0 indicated no pain, a score of 5 indicated moderate pain, and a score of 10 indicated the worst pain.
From enrollment to the end of the third month
Trigger points count
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the third month
Trigger points were identified in the trapezius, levator scapulae, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus muscles by the presence of a hypersensitive spot within a palpable taut band, accompanied by a visible or palpable LTR and/or reproduction of referred pain upon palpation of the sensitive point.
From enrollment to the end of the third month
Multidimensional quality of life score
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the third month
The multidimensional quality of life scale includes a total of 35 items and assesses nine subdomains, each with four items. The overall score is obtained by summing the responses to all the items. Each item is given a score from 1 to 7, with a total score of 35 to 245. Higher scores indicate better functional status.
From enrollment to the end of the third month
Likert satisfaction scale
Tidsram: From enrollment to the end of the third month
Patient satisfaction was assessed using a Likert scale, where participants were asked to rate their experience by selecting one of the following options: none, mild, moderately good, good, or very good.
From enrollment to the end of the third month

Samarbetspartners och utredare

Det är här du hittar personer och organisationer som är involverade i denna studie.

Utredare

  • Studierektor: Fatih Baygutalp, Medical doctor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine

Studieavstämningsdatum

Dessa datum spårar framstegen för inlämningar av studieposter och sammanfattande resultat till ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter och rapporterade resultat granskas av National Library of Medicine (NLM) för att säkerställa att de uppfyller specifika kvalitetskontrollstandarder innan de publiceras på den offentliga webbplatsen.

Studera stora datum

Studiestart (Faktisk)

15 mars 2022

Primärt slutförande (Faktisk)

30 juni 2024

Avslutad studie (Faktisk)

29 augusti 2025

Studieregistreringsdatum

Först inskickad

30 juni 2026

Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

30 juni 2026

Första postat (Faktisk)

7 juli 2026

Uppdateringar av studier

Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)

7 juli 2026

Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

30 juni 2026

Senast verifierad

1 juni 2026

Mer information

Termer relaterade till denna studie

Plan för individuella deltagardata (IPD)

Planerar du att dela individuella deltagardata (IPD)?

JA

IPD-planbeskrivning

All the patients' demographic characteristics, including age, sex, educational level, occupation, height and weight

Tidsram för IPD-delning

Beginning 1 year after publication with no end date

Kriterier för IPD Sharing Access

Access to individual participant data (IPD) and supporting documentation is provided to the principal investigators and the designated research team. Additionally, access may be granted to journal editors and peer reviewers upon request for the purposes of data verification and manuscript evaluation. All shared information consists exclusively of de-identified, anonymized raw data to ensure participant privacy. Access is managed on a request-only basis, ensuring that data is shared securely and in accordance with ethical standards and institutional guidelines.

IPD-delning som stöder informationstyp

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ICF

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Kliniska prövningar på Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS)

Kliniska prövningar på Cupping therapy

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