The Effectiveness of Adding Cupping Therapy in Patients With Nonspecific Chronic Lumbar Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Low back pain is a major public health problem and is associated with a high rate of absenteeism at work, functional disability and frequent use of health services. Suction cup therapy is a common technique of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been around for about 3,300 years in Asia and the Middle East and has as its main feature the decrease in signs and symptoms of chronic pain. The technique was widely used in the 19th century throughout Asia and Europe, and in recent years demand has been increasing, possibly due to the inefficiency of conventional therapies and medicines. Objective: To verify the effectiveness of the suction cup therapy technique associated with conventional physiotherapy in patients with chronic low back pain. Method: We will include individuals between 18 and 60 years old, both genders, with low back pain for more than 3 months, without having received physical therapy treatment for a period of 6 months. Individuals with severe spinal diseases, root conditions of the spine, carriers of vascular diseases and pregnant women will be excluded. They will be randomly divided into two groups, Conventional Physiotherapy (group 1) and Conventional Physiotherapy associated with suction cup therapy (group 2).

Official Title
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The Effectiveness of Adding Cupping Therapy in Patients With Nonspecific Chronic Lumbar Pain: a Randomized Controlled Study.

Conditions
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Low Back Pain, Mechanical, Low Back Pain, Postural, Lower Back Pain Chronic, Low Back Pain, Posterior Compartment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: muscle strengthening exercises
* Other: muscle strengthening exercises and dry cupping


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: nonspecific chronic low back pain without lower limb irradiation Aged between 18 and 60 years, Both genders Low back pain for more than 3 months Without having received physiotherapy treatment for a period of 6 months Exclusion Criteria: individuals with severe spinal diseases (fractures, tumors and inflammatory conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis) root conditions of the spine (disc herniation and spondylolisthesis with neurological impairment and narrowing of the spinal canal) root conditions of the spine carriers of vascular diseases pregnant women.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Exercise group<br>Exercise group | Other: muscle strengthening exercises<br>* segmental stabilization exercises<br>|
| Experimental: Exercise group and dry cupping<br>Exercise and dry cupping | Other: muscle strengthening exercises and dry cupping<br>* segmental stabilization exercises and dry cupping<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pain intensity after and before six weeks | Numerical Visual Scale (0-100) | immediately after the intervention |