The Use of Wet Cupping for Persistent Nonspecific Low Back Pain: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

AlBedah, A.

Khalil, M.

Elolemy, A.

Hussein, A.A.

AlQaed, M.

Al Mudaiheem, A.

Abutalib, R.A.

Bazaid, F.M.

Bafail, A.S.

Essa, A.B.

Bakrain, M.Y.

Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine

2015

21(8)

504-508

RCT

BACKACHE -- Treatment

ACETAMINOPHEN -- Therapeutic use

ACUPUNCTURE points

ALTERNATIVE medicine

CLINICAL trials

CONFIDENCE intervals

PROBABILITY theory

SAMPLING (Statistics)

SCALE analysis (Psychology)

Statistics

STATISTICAL power analysis

DATA analysis

QI (Chinese philosophy)

PAIN measurement

RANDOMIZED controlled trials

TREATMENT effectiveness

PRE-tests & post-tests

MEDICAL suction

DATA analysis -- Software

FUNCTIONAL assessment

DESCRIPTIVE statistics

SAUDI Arabia

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of wet cupping therapy as a single treatment for persistent nonspecific low back pain (PNSLBP). Design: Randomized controlled trial comparing wet cupping versus no treatment in PNSLBP. Setting: Outpatient clinic in three secondary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Patients: Eighty eligible participants with PNSLBP for at least 3 months were randomly allocated to an intervention group ( n=40) or to a control group ( n=40). Interventions: Six wet cupping sessions within 2 weeks, each of which were done at two bladder meridian (BL) acupuncture points among BL23, BL24, and BL25. Only acetaminophen was allowed as a rescue treatment in both groups. Outcome measures: The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), McGill Present Pain Intensity (PPI), and Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) were used as outcome measures. Numbers of acetaminophen tablets taken were compared at 4 weeks from baseline. Adverse events were recorded. Results: At the end of the intervention, statistically significant differences in the three outcome measures favoring the wet cupping group compared with the control group were seen: NRS score, 29.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.6-33.8) versus 57.9 (95% CI, 53.3-62.6), respectively; PPI score, 1.17 (95% CI, 0.96-1.4) versus 2.3 (95% CI, 2.1- 2.7); and ODQ score, 19.6 (95% CI, 16.5-22.7) versus 35.4 (95% CI, 32.3-38.5) ( p=0.0001). This improvement continued for another 2 weeks after the end of the intervention. Acetaminophen was used less in the wet cupping group, but this difference was not statistically significant. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Wet cupping is potentially effective in reducing pain and improving disability associated with PNSLBP at least for 2 weeks after the end of the wet cupping period. Placebo-controlled trials are needed.

Accession Number: 108593140; Source Information: Aug2015, Vol. 21 Issue 8, p504; Subject Term: BACKACHE -- Treatment; Subject Term: ACETAMINOPHEN -- Therapeutic use; Subject Term: ACUPUNCTURE points; Subject Term: ALTERNATIVE medicine; Subject Term: CLINICAL trials; Subject Term: CONFIDENCE intervals; Subject Term: PROBABILITY theory; Subject Term: SAMPLING (Statistics); Subject Term: SCALE analysis (Psychology); Subject Term: STATISTICS; Subject Term: STATISTICAL power analysis; Subject Term: DATA analysis; Subject Term: QI (Chinese philosophy); Subject Term: PAIN measurement; Subject Term: RANDOMIZED controlled trials; Subject Term: TREATMENT effectiveness; Subject Term: PRE-tests & post-tests; Subject Term: MEDICAL suction; Subject Term: DATA analysis -- Software; Subject Term: FUNCTIONAL assessment; Subject Term: DESCRIPTIVE statistics; Subject Term: ; Geographic Subject: SAUDI Arabia; Geographic Subject: ; Number of Pages: 5p; ; Illustrations: 1 Diagram, 2 Charts, 1 Graph; ; Document Type: Article;

0