INSTRUMENT ASSISSTED SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION VERSUS DRY CUPPING ON UPPER TRAPEZIUS TRIGGER POINTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, Dry Cupping, Hot Packs, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Upper Trapezius Trigger Points, Non Specific Chronic Neck Pain. Basic parameters: 20 years — 50 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and dry cupping in patients (both genders), aged 20-50 years, diagnosed with chronic non-specific neck pain who have active upper trapezius trigger points. The main questions it aims to answer are : 1. Is there a significant difference in the effect on pain level (measured by VAS) between the groups? 2. Is there a significant difference in the effect on cervical range of motion (CROM), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and functional disability (NDI) between the groups? Researchers will compare three groups: 1. Group A (Control):\] Will receive a conventional physical therapy program (hot packs, TENS, and exercises). 2. Group B (Experimental):\] Will receive conventional therapy plus IASTM. 3. Group C (Experimental):\] Will receive conventional therapy plus Dry Cupping. Participants will be asked to do the following: 1. Undergo baseline assessments (measuring pain, ROM, PPT, and disability) before treatment and final assessments after 4 weeks. 2. Attend \[3 treatment sessions per week for four weeks\]. 3. At each session, all participants will receive the conventional physical therapy program , while Groups B and C will receive their additional intervention (IASTM or dry cupping).
Interventions
- Device Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
While the participant is seated, a lubricant (Vaseline) is applied to the skin. The M2T blade is used at a 45° angle to apply slow sweeping strokes along the muscle from origin to insertion (sweeping technique) over the upper trapezius for approximately three minutes. - Device Dry Cupping
While the participant is in a prone position , a single 5cm inner diameter plastic cup is applied to the skin directly over the pre-determined treatment location. The cup is secured by pumping a manual hand-pump three times. The cup is left in place for 5 minutes. - Other Hot Packs
Commercially accessible hot packs (made of bentonite) are placed over the neck and the upper part of the shoulder musculature while the patient is in a prone position. The application lasts for 15-20 minutes. - Device Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Applied while the patient is sitting. Electrodes are placed directly over or surrounding the trigger point and along the muscle belly. Parameters: Pulse rate 60-100Hz , Pulse width 40-250 μs. Intensity is set to a tolerable tingling sensation. Treatment duration is 20-30 minutes. - Behavioral Exercise Program
A supervised home exercise program consisting of: Range of Motion Exercises: Cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation, and shoulder shrugs. Strengthening Exercises: Isometric cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation; scapular retractions; and chin tucks. Dosage: Performed daily for 10-15 repetitions and 2-3 sets
Primary outcome measures
- Pain Intensity Level [Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and after 4 weeks of treatment.]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) [Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and after 4 weeks of treatment.]
- Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) [Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and after 4 weeks of treatment.]
- Functional Disability [Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and after the 4-week intervention period.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Participants aged 20 to 50.
- Diagnosis of chronic non-specific neck pain (> 4 weeks duration).
- Had an active upper trapezius TrP (defined as a tender nodule in a taut band that referred pain in a pattern specific for upper trapezius TrP1 or TrP2).
- Pain of at least 40 mm on a visual analogue scale (VAS).
- Body mass index from 18 - 30 kg/m2
Exclusion criteria
- Participants who will exhibit signs of fibromyalgia syndrome.
- Participants with a specific neck pain such as cervical radiculopathy with neurological deficits (e.g., motor weakness, significant sensory loss), cervical instability, fracture, tumor, infection, or inflammatory arthropathies.
- Sensory problems in the upper or midback regions, heart/circulation problems.
- Participants who will have vascular syndromes such as vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
- Participants with skin lesions, fragile skin, or a history of bleeding disorders.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07260019 · P.T.REC/012/006052