Comparative Effectiveness of Dry Cupping and Graston Techniques in Scapulocostal Syndrome.
NCT ID: NCT07102355
Last Updated: 2025-12-30
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
46 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-10-01
2025-09-13
Brief Summary
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1. To evaluate the relative effectiveness of dry cupping and the Graston technique.
2. How well each technique reduces symptoms and enhances work productivity and functional outcomes.
3. To assess whether integrating either Graston Technique or Dry Cupping provides more beneficial effects than conventional treatment alone.
1\) Be divided into 2 Groups (Group A= Dry Cupping; B: Graston Techniques) 2) get the treatment for 4 weeks (3 days a week). 3) Receive the same conventional treatment.
Detailed Description
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This study will be a randomized clinical trial with a sample size of 46 participants with work-related SCS. The participants will be obtained by non-probability convenient sampling based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups, with 23 subjects in each group. Group A will receive dry cupping along with conventional therapy while Group B will receive IASTM along with conventional therapy.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Group A = Dry Cupping
Group A will receive Dru cupping along with conventional treatment.
Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping
Dry cupping, originating in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, gained popularity in the United States after the 2016 Summer Olympics. It has two main forms: wet and dry cupping. Wet cupping involves laceration of the skin, while dry cupping uses negative pressure to pull the skin into the cup. Cupping is used to reduce musculoskeletal or myofascial pain, with the most accepted mechanism being localized hyperemia, which improves microcirculation and promotes healing
Group B = Graston Technique
Group B will receive Graston Technique with Conventional treatment.
Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), derived from Cyriax cross-friction massage, is a popular alternative to traditional manual therapy techniques, with its first controlled study published in 1997 (Seffrin \& Gardiner-Shires, 2019) .The Graston Technique(GT), also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), is used by chiropractors, doctors, and therapists to alleviate pain and range-of-motion restrictions caused by musculoskeletal injuries and scar tissue. (McKivigan, J. M., \& Tulimero, G. et al. , 2020) . The Graston technique, is also used to alleviate upper cervical pain.
Interventions
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Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping
Dry cupping, originating in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, gained popularity in the United States after the 2016 Summer Olympics. It has two main forms: wet and dry cupping. Wet cupping involves laceration of the skin, while dry cupping uses negative pressure to pull the skin into the cup. Cupping is used to reduce musculoskeletal or myofascial pain, with the most accepted mechanism being localized hyperemia, which improves microcirculation and promotes healing
Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), derived from Cyriax cross-friction massage, is a popular alternative to traditional manual therapy techniques, with its first controlled study published in 1997 (Seffrin \& Gardiner-Shires, 2019) .The Graston Technique(GT), also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), is used by chiropractors, doctors, and therapists to alleviate pain and range-of-motion restrictions caused by musculoskeletal injuries and scar tissue. (McKivigan, J. M., \& Tulimero, G. et al. , 2020) . The Graston technique, is also used to alleviate upper cervical pain.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
2. Males and females
3. Office Workers.
4. Subjects that have symptoms of musculoskeletal nature (
5. Subjects with pain lasting for longer than 3 months (
Exclusion Criteria
2. Subjects with systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
3. Subjects with the presence of any fractures
4. Heart/diabetic patients
5. Pregnant women
18 Years
30 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Danyal Ahmad
Head Of Department (HOD)
Principal Investigators
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Danyal Ahmad, PhD Scholar
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
Locations
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Bethania Hospital Sialkot
Sialkot, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Bethania Hospital
Lahore, , Pakistan
University of Management and technology Sialkot Campus
Sialkot, , Pakistan
Bethania Hospital
Sialkot, , Pakistan
Countries
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References
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Brandl A, Bartsch K, James H, Miller ME, Schleip R. Influence of Rolfing Structural Integration on Active Range of Motion: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2022 Oct 5;11(19):5878. doi: 10.3390/jcm11195878.
Sharma S, Kaur H, Verma N, Adhya B. Looking beyond Piriformis Syndrome: Is It Really the Piriformis? Hip Pelvis. 2023 Mar;35(1):1-5. doi: 10.5371/hp.2023.35.1.1. Epub 2023 Mar 6.
Aslam S, Rahim R, Ejaz U, Tariq ZB, Guftar F. Effects of Myofascial Release Technique on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients with Piriformis Syndrome. HJPRS [Internet]. 2025 Aug 23 [cited 2025 Oct 19];5(2):56-61.
Seffrin CB, Cattano NM, Reed MA, Gardiner-Shires AM. Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: A Systematic Review and Effect-Size Analysis. J Athl Train. 2019 Jul;54(7):808-821. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-481-17. Epub 2019 Jul 19.
Buttagat V, Taepa N, Suwannived N, Rattanachan N. Effects of scapular stabilization exercise on pain related parameters in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Jan;20(1):115-122. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.07.036. Epub 2015 Jul 26.
Elsayyad MM, Abdel-Aal NM, Helal ME. Effect of Adding Neural Mobilization Versus Myofascial Release to Stabilization Exercises after Lumbar Spine Fusion: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Feb;102(2):251-260. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.07.009. Epub 2020 Aug 19.
Other Identifiers
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kuhs/dpt/umt-skt-016
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id