Dry Cupping Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis

NCT04331158 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: UFRNventosaOA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 62
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the biggest cause of pain and disability worldwide. As a non-pharmacological approach, ventosatherapia has been used to control pain, improve function and quality of life. However, there is a lack of high-quality scientific evidence regarding its effects on this condition. Objective: To evaluate the effects of dry cupping on pain, function and quality of life in women with KOA. Methods: This is a randomized, blinded placebo-controlled protocol. 62 women diagnosed with KOA will be recruited, based on the clinical criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, who will be randomly divided into two groups (31 per group): dry cupping and dry cupping sham.

Conditions

Osteo Arthritis Knee; Pain, Chronic; Pain

Keywords

Chronic pain; Traditional Chinese Medicine; Complementary Therapie

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)

  Subjective measure in which individuals rate their pain on an eleven-point numerical scale. Such scale will be positioned in front of the participant and will vary from 0 to 10 points, with 0 being the complete absence of pain and 10 being the worst pain imaginable by the individual

  baseline, 3 ,6 and 10 weeks after.

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Change from Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)

  baseline, 3 ,6 and 10 weeks after.

• Change from 30-second Chair Stand Test

  baseline, 6 and 10 weeks after.

• Change from 8-step Stair Climb Test

  baseline, 6 and 10 weeks after.

• Change from 40m Fast Paced Walk Test

  baseline, 6 and 10 weeks after.

• Change from Short-Form 36 quality of life

  baseline, 6 and 10 weeks after.

Study Arms (2)

Dry cupping group

EXPERIMENTAL

The dry cupping will be applied with a force of two suctions generating a negative pressure on the skin during the time of 15 minutes.

Other: Dry cupping therapy

Dry cupping sham group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The dry cupping sham group will receive the same procedures as the dry cup group, with the difference that the negative pressure imposed after application will be released in a few seconds.

Other: Dry cupping therapy

Interventions

Dry cupping therapy OTHER

Dry cupping therapy application on the patient's skin

Dry cupping group; Dry cupping sham group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 75 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Most prevalent disease in elderly women
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosed with KOA based on ACR clinical criteria;
• Knee pain intensity between 3 and 8, according to the Numerical Pain Scale (END);
• BMI less than 35 kg / m2.

You may not qualify if:

• Having undergone physical therapy treatment for the knee in the 3 months prior to the project;
• Be engaged in\> 45 minutes / week in accumulated physical activity of at least moderate intensity;
• To have been submitted to the application and / or intervention with the wind therapy previously.
• Have used corticosteroid infiltration in the knee in the last 6 months;
• Present any medical restrictions that make it impossible for them to participate in the proposed assessments and interventions (cardiorespiratory, neurological and / or musculoskeletal changes);
• Presenting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis or some systemic inflammatory arthritis;
• Presenting a ligament or meniscal injury diagnosed clinically or with a positive result in the Apley tests or anterior / posterior drawer;
• Have had previous surgery on the ankle, knee or hip;
• Present a clinical diagnosis of some dementia or inability to answer the questionnaires related to the study;
• Present any contraindications for the use of ventosatherapia (skin lesion in the region where it will be applied, cancer, kidney failure, liver and heart failure, pacemaker, pregnancy);
• Having uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension;

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte: lead

Study Sites (1)

Marcelo Cardoso de Souza

Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, 59200-000, Brazil

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Silva HJA, Saragiotto BT, Silva RS, Lins CAA, de Souza MC. Dry cupping in the treatment of individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain: a protocol for a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind study. BMJ Open. 2019 Dec 22;9(12):e032416. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032416.

  PMID: 31871257 BACKGROUND

• Peat G, Thomas E, Duncan R, Wood L, Hay E, Croft P. Clinical classification criteria for knee osteoarthritis: performance in the general population and primary care. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Oct;65(10):1363-7. doi: 10.1136/ard.2006.051482. Epub 2006 Apr 20.

  PMID: 16627539 BACKGROUND

• Cavalcanti RR, Almeida Silva HJ, Pontes-Silva A, Avila MA, de Souza CG, Sousa CO, Scattone Silva R, Barbosa GM, de Souza MC. Dry cupping therapy has no effect on pain, function, or quality of life in women with knee osteoarthritis: Randomized placebo-controlled trial. Braz J Phys Ther. 2026 Jan-Feb;30(1):101259. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2025.101259. Epub 2025 Oct 2.

  PMID: 41043303 DERIVED

• Pontes NS, Barbosa GM, Almeida Silva HJ, Scattone Silva R, Souza CG, Lins CAA, de Souza MC. Effects of dry cupping on pain, function and quality of life in women with knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a sham-controlled randomised trial. BMJ Open. 2020 Dec 24;10(12):e039857. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039857.

  PMID: 33361075 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Marcelo C de Souza, PT, PhD

  Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: To avoid any type of selection bias, the confidential allocation method will be through opaque envelopes, sealed and numbered consecutively. The randomization process will be carried out by an independent researcher who will not be involved in other study procedures. The group in which the participant will be allocated will be revealed to the researcher responsible for the consultations prior to the first intervention.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Adjunct Professor

Model Details: dry cupping group and dry cupping sham group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 29, 2020
• First Posted: April 2, 2020
• Study Start: February 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2023
• Study Completion: December 2, 2023
• Last Updated: June 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)