Pulsatile Cupping in Low Back Pain

Efficacy of Pulsatile Cupping in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain - a Randomized Controlled Study.

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02090686

Acronym

Cupping-LBP

Enrollment

110

Registered

2014-03-18

Start date

2014-03-31

Completion date

2015-02-28

Last updated

2018-02-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether pulsatile cupping with a cupping device is effective in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain compared to no cupping or to minimal cupping.

Interventions

DEVICEPulsatile Cupping

8 cupping sessions (each 8 minutes) in 4 weeks (-150 to -350 mbar), interval 2 seconds. Paracetamol on demand as rescue medication (maximum dosage 4 x500 mg/day)

DEVICEMinimal Cupping

8 cupping sessions (each 8 minutes) in 4 weeks witth (-60 to -70 mbar). Paracetamol on demand as rescue medication (maximum dosage 4 x500 mg/day).

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Male and female, 18-65 years * Chronic low back pain (disease duration \> 3 months) * Pain intensity on visual analogue scale at inclusion \> 40 mm (0-100 mm scale) * Only pharmacological treatment with NSAID or no treatment in the last 4 weeks * Undersigned informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

* Use of anticoagulants (Phenprocoumon, Heparin) * Coagulopathy * Cupping in the last 6 weeks * Other CAM therapies in the last 12 weeks (e.g. acupuncture) * Physical therapy in the last 12 weeks (e.g. massage, osteopathy) * participation in another study in the last 3 months * Paracetamol allergy or intolerance * Pathological neurological symptoms such as muscular paralysis or paraesthesia due to spinal disc herniation or other causes * Known renal and / or hepatic diseases * Intake of central nervous system-acting analgesics in the last 6 weeks * Applying for early retirement due to low back pain * Severe disease that does not allow participation * No undersigned informed consent form

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Intensity of pain on visual analogues scale	4 weeks

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Back function - FFbH-R-Questionnaire	4 weeks, 12 weeks
Quality of Life - SF 36	4 weeks, 12 weeks
Intensity of pain on visual analogue scale	12 weeks
Intake of paracetamol	4 weeks
Adverse events	week 1- 12
Assessment of perceived effect on Likert Scale	4 weeks, 12 weeks

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 24, 2026