Comparative Effectiveness of Dry Cupping and Graston Techniques in Scapulocostal Syndrome.

NCT07102355 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: kuhs/dpt/umt-skt-016
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to check the comparative effectiveness of Graston Techniques and Dry cupping in Office Workers with Scapulocostal syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.To evaluate the relative effectiveness of dry cupping and the Graston technique.
2. 2.How well each technique reduces symptoms and enhances work productivity and functional outcomes.
3. 3.To assess whether integrating either Graston Technique or Dry Cupping provides more beneficial effects than conventional treatment alone.

Conditions

Scapulocostal Syndrome

Keywords

Scapulocostal Syndrome; Myofascilal pain syndrome,; Graston Technique; Dry Cupping Therapy; Cervical Range of Motion

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change From Baseline in Pain Intensity as Measured by the Visual Analog Scale

  Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 100 mm horizontal line anchored by two extremes: 0 mm represents "no pain" and 100 mm represents "worst imaginable pain." Participants will mark the point that best represents their pain intensity. The score is the distance in millimeters from the left end to the mark. Change in pain intensity will be calculated by subtracting the Week 4 score from the baseline score. A decrease in VAS score indicates an improvement in pain levels.

  4 Weeks

• Cervical Range of Motion (ROM)

  Cervical spine Range of Motion (ROM) will be assessed and measured using a universal goniometer by utilizing moving and stationary arm of angles in cervical spine range of motion..

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Neck Disability Index (NDI) Total Score

  4 Weeks

• Treatment-Related Adverse Events During the 4-Week Intervention

  4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Group A = Dry Cupping

EXPERIMENTAL

Group A will receive Dru cupping along with conventional treatment.

Other: Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping

Group B = Graston Technique

EXPERIMENTAL

Group B will receive Graston Technique with Conventional treatment.

Other: Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique

Interventions

Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique OTHER

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.

Group B = Graston Technique

Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping OTHER

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 A = Dry Cupping

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• age group
• Males and females
• Office Workers.
• Subjects that have symptoms of musculoskeletal nature (
• Subjects with pain lasting for longer than 3 months (

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects with underlying pathology such as TOS, brachial neuralgia, cervical radiculopathy, polymyositis or Fibro myositis
• Subjects with systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
• Subjects with the presence of any fractures
• Heart/diabetic patients
• Pregnant women

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan: lead

Study Sites (4)

Bethania Hospital Sialkot

Sialkot, Punjab Province, 51310, Pakistan

Location

Bethania Hospital

Lahore, 54910, Pakistan

Location

University of Management and technology Sialkot Campus

Sialkot, 54000, Pakistan

Location

Bethania Hospital

Sialkot, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (6)

• 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.

  PMID: 36233746 RESULT

• 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.

  PMID: 36937215 RESULT

• 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.

  RESULT

• 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.

  PMID: 31322903 RESULT

• 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.

  PMID: 26891646 RESULT

• 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.

  PMID: 32827553 RESULT

Study Officials

• Danyal Ahmad, PhD Scholar

  University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Head Of Department (HOD)

Model Details: A convenient sampling technique was used. Data collection was initiated after taking the content form, and then participants were divided into two groups by lottery: Group A and Group B. Group A was given Dry cupping, and Group B was given the Graston Technique along with Conventional Treatment.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 18, 2024
• First Posted: August 3, 2025
• Study Start: October 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: January 25, 2025
• Study Completion: September 13, 2025
• Last Updated: December 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

PA (4)