Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Versus Dry Cupping On Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

NCT ID: NCT07007442

Last Updated: 2025-09-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 45 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-04-23
• Study Completion Date: 2025-06-10

Brief Summary

Which is more effective Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization or Dry cupping on pain intensity, cervical range of motion and functional status in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain?

Detailed Description

Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal pathology treated by physical therapists around the world. Neck pain is one of the highest complaints in terms of years lived with a disability, increasing the prelevancy of proper management by physical therapists. The overall prevalence of neck pain ranges from 10% to 20%, and the incidence of new neck pain ranging from 10% to 50%. Dry cupping involves the use of glass, plastic or bamboo cups that are placed over localized areas of skin. A vacuum suction is achieved with heat from a flame, a manual handheld pump or electrical pumping devices to create a negative pressure, drawing localized skin and soft tissue structures into the cup . Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a new technique, which has been known to be effective in reducing muscle tightness in athletes . IASTM is a new tool, which allows clinicians to efficiently locate and treat individuals diagnosed with soft tissue dysfunction .

The use of the instrument is thought to provide a mechanical advantage for the clinician by allowing deeper penetration and more specific treatment, while also reducing imposed stress on the hands

Conditions

Neck Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

intrumented assissted soft tissue mobilization

twenty patients Will receive Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and Conventional therapy (isometric exercises, stretching, posture correction exercises and cold pack) for 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization

Intervention Type: OTHER

for application of IASTM. the patient will sit on chair in comfortable position, apply lubricant material on treated area (trapezius muscle). Apply IASTM in 30-60 angle for 40 to 120 sec until hyperemia occur for each side+ conventional therapy

conventional therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

the patients will receive Isometric strengthening exercises for cervical Extensors, Flexors, bilateral side Flexors and Rotators (resistance was about 50% of the patient's maximum strength, hold for 10 seconds, for 10 repetitions.Stretching of the upper fibers of trapezius (stretching was held for 30 seconds and repeated 3 times). postural correction exercises in the form of ; 1) Chin tucks exercise is quick and easy to do and it helps strengthening upper thoracic extensors, the muscles that align head over shoulders.2)Corner stretch: provides a deep stretch of the chest and shoulders, which can help maintain good posture.

dry cupping

twenty patients Will receive Dry cupping and conventional therapy (isometric exercises, stretching, posture correction exercises and cold pack) for 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

dry cupping

Intervention Type: OTHER

the dry cupping will be aplied by using plastic cups that are placed over localized areas of skin. A vacuum suction is achieved with a manual handheld pump device to create a negative pressure, drawing localized skin and soft tissue structures into the cup+ conventional therapy

conventional therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

the patients will receive Isometric strengthening exercises for cervical Extensors, Flexors, bilateral side Flexors and Rotators (resistance was about 50% of the patient's maximum strength, hold for 10 seconds, for 10 repetitions.Stretching of the upper fibers of trapezius (stretching was held for 30 seconds and repeated 3 times). postural correction exercises in the form of ; 1) Chin tucks exercise is quick and easy to do and it helps strengthening upper thoracic extensors, the muscles that align head over shoulders.2)Corner stretch: provides a deep stretch of the chest and shoulders, which can help maintain good posture.

conventional therapy

twenty patients will be treated with isometric exercises, stretching, posture correction exercises and cold pack) for 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

conventional therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

the patients will receive Isometric strengthening exercises for cervical Extensors, Flexors, bilateral side Flexors and Rotators (resistance was about 50% of the patient's maximum strength, hold for 10 seconds, for 10 repetitions.Stretching of the upper fibers of trapezius (stretching was held for 30 seconds and repeated 3 times). postural correction exercises in the form of ; 1) Chin tucks exercise is quick and easy to do and it helps strengthening upper thoracic extensors, the muscles that align head over shoulders.2)Corner stretch: provides a deep stretch of the chest and shoulders, which can help maintain good posture.

Interventions

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization

for application of IASTM. the patient will sit on chair in comfortable position, apply lubricant material on treated area (trapezius muscle). Apply IASTM in 30-60 angle for 40 to 120 sec until hyperemia occur for each side+ conventional therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

dry cupping

the dry cupping will be aplied by using plastic cups that are placed over localized areas of skin. A vacuum suction is achieved with a manual handheld pump device to create a negative pressure, drawing localized skin and soft tissue structures into the cup+ conventional therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

conventional therapy

the patients will receive Isometric strengthening exercises for cervical Extensors, Flexors, bilateral side Flexors and Rotators (resistance was about 50% of the patient's maximum strength, hold for 10 seconds, for 10 repetitions.Stretching of the upper fibers of trapezius (stretching was held for 30 seconds and repeated 3 times). postural correction exercises in the form of ; 1) Chin tucks exercise is quick and easy to do and it helps strengthening upper thoracic extensors, the muscles that align head over shoulders.2)Corner stretch: provides a deep stretch of the chest and shoulders, which can help maintain good posture.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 45 patients with chronic mechanical neck pain in the past 3 months.
• Age range from 18 to 35 years old.
• Patients will be from both sexes.
• Body mass index from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2.
• Subjects suffer from chronic mechanical neck pain.

Exclusion Criteria

• Serious injury.
• Tumor.
• Infection.
• Spinal fractures.
• Recent cervical surgery.
• Cervical radiculopathy.
• Skin disease, allergy, hypersensitivity, any malignant or benign tumors.
• Unhealed scars or wounds.
• Pregnancy.
• Known psychiatric condition under treatment or medication.
• Any orthopedic and Neurological condition as cervical PIVD, spondylolisthesis.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Cairo University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Fatma Ahmed Reda Ahmed Shalby

Bachelor of physiotherapy

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Sahar Abdullah, Phd

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Cairo University

Locations

Cairo university

Cairo, , Egypt

Countries

Egypt

References

Binder AI. Neck pain. BMJ Clin Evid. 2008 Aug 4;2008:1103.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 19445809 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7384473/

Dry Cupping Therapy for Improving Nonspecific Neck Pain and Subcutaneous Hemodynamics

Other Identifiers

P.T.REC/012/005096

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id