title: The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic neck pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence for the effectiveness of complementary therapies. This study aimed to test the efficacy of cupping massage in patients with neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomly assigned to cupping massage or a wait list control. The intervention group received 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis while the control patients continued their usual treatments. The primary outcome measure was neck pain intensity (0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)) after 3 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain on movement, functional disability, health-related quality of life, mechanical detection and pain thresholds and adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  50 patients (52.6 ± 10.3 years, 92% female) were randomised to either cupping massage or a wait list (N = 25 each). Patients in the cupping group reported significantly less neck pain post intervention (difference per protocol -14.3 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) -27.7 to -1.0, p = 0.037; difference intention-to-treat -10.8 mm, 95% CI -21.5 to -0.1, p = 0.047). Significant group differences in favour of the intervention were further found for pain on movement (p = 0.019) and functional disability (p < 0.001), the quality-of-life subscales pain (p = 0.002) and mental health (p = 0.003) and the mental component summary (p = 0.036). Changes were also found for pressure pain sensitivity at the site of maximal pain (p = 0.022). Five adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cupping massage appears to be effective in reducing pain and increasing function and quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm and extend these results.
authors.forename: Felix J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hohmann
authors.forename: Kyung-Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rolke
authors.forename: Jost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langhorst
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rampp
authors.forename: Gustav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dobos
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lauche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome