Different Types of Cupping Therapy and Ankle Range of Motion

NCT06513078 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HS-22-1287
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 49
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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).

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Ankle dorsiflexion; Dynamic cupping; Static cupping

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in average ankle dorsiflexion (degrees) using a digital inclinometer

  Weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion measured by performing a modified lunge and bringing the knee forward as far as possible without allowing the heel to come off of the ground. A digital inclinometer was placed vertically over the tibial tuberosity and the measurement was reported as the average of three trials, in degrees.

  Baseline and immediately after receiving treatment.

Study Arms (4)

Static cupping

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Other: Static cupping

Static sham cupping

SHAM COMPARATOR

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.

Other: Static sham cupping

Dynamic cupping

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Other: Dynamic cupping

Dynamic sham cupping

SHAM COMPARATOR

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.

Other: Dynamic sham cupping

Interventions

Static cupping OTHER

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

Static cupping

Static sham cupping 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.

Static sham cupping

Dynamic cupping 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 cupping

Dynamic sham cupping 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.

Dynamic sham cupping

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northern Michigan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan, 49855, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Megan C Nelson, PhD

  Northern Michigan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants did not know whether they were receiving actual cupping treatment or a sham treatment.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 16, 2024
• First Posted: July 22, 2024
• Study Start: April 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2023
• Study Completion: March 31, 2023
• Last Updated: July 25, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)