Vacuum Cupping for Chronic Neck and Back Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Neck Pain; Chronic Pain; Back Pain
• Interventions: Device: AERO vacuum cupping device

• Registration Number: NCT05392283
• Lead Sponsor: Jena University Hospital

Brief Summary

Small clinical pilot studies have shown that vacuum massage-related techniques such as traditional dry cupping can reduce musculoskeletal pain such as back and neck pain. At the same time, little is yet known about the potential mechanisms of action of these therapies. A vacuum pump induces a massaging effect of the skin including the deeper tissue layers. The resulting massage technique corresponds to a kind of tissue manipulation similar to dry cupping. In this procedure, suction force and air flow can be individually adjusted. This is an advantage that can be used for patients with varying degrees of sensitivity or who are preloaded by patients with varying degrees of sensitivity or a history of pain. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of the study design.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-04-26
• Study Start: 2022-05-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-05-20
• Study First Posted: 2022-05-26
• Primary Completion: 2022-07-31
• Study Completion: 2022-08-30
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-27
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 5

Inclusion Criteria

• chronic neck or back pain
• mean pain intensity ≥ 40 mm VAS

Exclusion Criteria

• neurological symptoms or neuropathic pain
• vertebral column surgery less than 12 months prior to the study
• TENS, acupuncture, osteopathy, or a chiropractic maneuvre or infiltration at the area within 4 weeks prior to the inclusion in the study
• congenital deformation of the spine

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Vacuum cupping	AERO vacuum cupping device	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain intensity (Numeric rating scale (NRS))	measured at baseline (week 1) and weekly during treatment (week 2 to 5) and 1 month after last treatment	NRS is a 11-point pain scale for self-reporting of pain ("0" meaning "no pain" and "10" meaning "worst pain")

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Quantitative sensory testing (QST)	measured at baseline (week 1) and weekly during treatment (week 2 to 5) and 1 month after last treatment	QST is a diagnostic tool which allows measurement of pain sensitivity.
Neck Disability Index (NDI)	measured at baseline (week 1), at the end of treatment (week 5) and after 1 month after last treatmentekly during treatment (week 2 to 5) and 1 month after last treatment	NDI is used to measure neck pain and to quantify disability for neck pain.
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)	measured at baseline (week 1), at the end of treatment (week 5) and after 1 month after last treatment	ODI is used to measure low back pain and to quantify disability for low back pain.
Pain diary	filled in from baseline (week 1) until last treatment (week 5)	A pain diary helps to track pain in the course of the study.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Jena University Hospital; 🇩🇪 Jena, Germany