Different Types of Cupping Therapy and Ankle Range of Motion

NCT ID: NCT06513078

Last Updated: 2024-07-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 49 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-04-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-03-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of different manual cupping therapy protocols on ankle range of motion, compared to sham treatments, in generally healthy adults with limited ankle range of motion (i.e., ankle dorsiflexion less than 40 degrees).

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of different manual cupping therapy protocols on ankle range of motion, compared to sham treatments, in generally healthy adults with limited ankle range of motion (i.e., ankle dorsiflexion less than 40 degrees). Participants had their baseline ankle dorsiflexion measured with a digital inclinometer in a weight-bearing modified lunge position by a certified athletic trainer. Participants who were eligible for the study were then randomly assigned to one of 4 groups; 2 of which were intervention groups (i.e., dynamic cupping, static cupping) and 2 of which were sham treatments (i.e., static sham cupping, dynamic sham cupping). Each participant was blinded to the therapy they were randomized to and all received a total of 10 minutes of the cupping therapy (either actual or sham). In general, cupping therapy consisted of creating a negative pressure in four 2" diameter plastic cups placed on the gastrocnemius. Sham cups had small holes in them allowing air to leak out. Cups were also attached with adhesive tape to all participants to ensure blinding. Depending on the treatment received, participants either were asked to lie still in the prone position or perform ankle exercises during the 10 minutes while the cups were attached. Immediately after receiving treatment, participants had their ankle dorsiflexion measured again using the same procedure described for baseline measurement.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Static cupping

Negative pressure was created inside 4 plastic cups (2" diameter) placed on the gastrocnemius by drawing out air with two full pumps via a manual suction tool and participants laid in the prone position for 10 minutes while the cups stayed attached to the skin. Cups were attached to the skin with adhesive tape.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Static cupping

Intervention Type: OTHER

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 10 minutes.

Static sham cupping

Negative pressure was created inside 4 plastic cups (2" diameter) placed on the gastrocnemius by drawing out air with two full pumps via a manual suction tool and participants laid in the prone position for 10 minutes while the cups stayed attached to the skin. Cups were attached to the skin with adhesive tape. However, the sham cups had a small hole in them which allowed pressure to leak out.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Static sham cupping

Intervention Type: OTHER

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 10 minutes. A pin hole in the cup allowed pressure to slowly leak out during the treatment.

Dynamic cupping

Negative pressure was created inside 4 plastic cups (2" diameter) placed on the gastrocnemius by drawing out air with two full pumps via a manual suction tool and participants laid in the prone position for 5 minutes while the cups stayed attached to the skin. Participants then completed two sets of 10 full range ankle pumps with a rest period of 30 seconds between sets (approximately 2 minutes). For the remaining 3 minutes, participants remained still in the prone position with the cups remaining attached. Cups were attached to the skin with adhesive tape.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dynamic cupping

Intervention Type: OTHER

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 5 minutes, then did ankle exercises for 3 minutes, and lastly lay prone on the table for the last 3 minutes.

Dynamic sham cupping

Negative pressure was created inside 4 plastic cups (2" diameter) placed on the gastrocnemius by drawing out air with two full pumps via a manual suction tool and participants laid in the prone position for 5 minutes while the cups stayed attached to the skin. Participants then completed two sets of 10 full range ankle pumps with a rest period of 30 seconds between sets (approximately 2 minutes). For the remaining 3 minutes, participants remained still in the prone position with the cups remaining attached. Cups were attached to the skin with adhesive tape. However, the sham cups had a small hole in them which allowed pressure to leak out.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Dynamic sham cupping

Intervention Type: OTHER

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 5 minutes, then did ankle exercises for 3 minutes, and lastly lay prone on the table for the last 3 minutes. A pin hole in the cup allowed pressure to slowly leak out during the treatment.

Interventions

Static cupping

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Static sham cupping

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 10 minutes. A pin hole in the cup allowed pressure to slowly leak out during the treatment.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Dynamic cupping

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 5 minutes, then did ankle exercises for 3 minutes, and lastly lay prone on the table for the last 3 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Dynamic sham cupping

4 cups were placed on the gastrocnemius, negative pressure was applied and participants lay prone on a table for 5 minutes, then did ankle exercises for 3 minutes, and lastly lay prone on the table for the last 3 minutes. A pin hole in the cup allowed pressure to slowly leak out during the treatment.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Limited ankle dorsiflexion (less than 40 degrees of weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion at baselines)
• Never received cupping therapy prior to the study
• No lower extremity injuries in the past 6 months
• No contraindications associated with cupping therapy (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pregnancy, bone fracture, or sunburn/rash)
• Generally healthy

Exclusion Criteria

• Ankle dorsiflexion greater than or equal to 40 degrees during weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion at baseline
• Received cupping therapy in the past
• Has a lower extremity injury or has had a lower extremity injury in the past 6 months
• Self-reported a contraindication associated with cupping therapy (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pregnancy, bone fracture, or sunburn/rash).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Northern Michigan University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Megan C Nelson, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northern Michigan University

Locations

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

HS-22-1287

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id