Cupping for treating neck pain in video display terminal (VDT) users: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This was a randomized controlled pilot trial to evaluate the effectiveness of cupping therapy for neck pain in video display terminal (VDT) workers.

METHODS:

Forty VDT workers with moderate to severe neck pain were recruited from May, 2011 to February, 2012. Participants were randomly allocated into one of the two interventions: 6 sessions of wet and dry cupping or heating pad application. The participants were offered an exercise program to perform during the participation period. A 0 to 100 numeric rating scale (NRS) for neck pain, measure yourself medical outcome profile 2 score (MYMOP2 score), cervical spine range of motion (C-spine ROM), neck disability index (NDI), the EuroQol health index (EQ-5D), short form stress response inventory (SRI-SF) and fatigue severity scale (FSS) were assessed at several points during a 7-week period.

RESULTS:

Compared with a heating pad, cupping was more effective in improving pain (adjusted NRS difference: -1.29 [95% CI -1.61, -0.97] at 3 weeks (p=0.025) and -1.16 [-1.48, -0.84] at 7 weeks (p=0.005)), neck function (adjusted NDI difference: -0.79 [-1.11, -0.47] at 3 (p=0.0039) and 7 weeks (p<0.0001)) and discomfort (adjusted MYMOP2 difference score: -0.72 [-1.04 to -0.40] at 3 weeks and -0.92 [-1.24, -0.60] at 7 weeks). Significant improvement in EQ-5D was observed at 7 weeks (1.0 [0.88, 1.0] with cupping and 0.91 [0.86, 0.91] with heating pad treatment, p=0.0054). Four participants reported mild adverse events of cupping.

CONCLUSION:

Two weeks of cupping therapy and an exercise program may be effective in reducing pain and improving neck function in VDT workers.

• Authors: Tae-Hun Kim, Jung Won Kang, Kun Hyung Kim, Min Hee Lee, Jung Eun Kim, Joo-Hee Kim, Seunghoon Lee, Mi-Suk Shin, So-Young Jung, Ae-Ran Kim, Hyo-Ju Park, Kwon Eui Hong
• Journal: Journal of occupational health (J Occup Health) Vol. 54 Issue 6 Pg. 416-26 ( 2012) ISSN: 1348-9585 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 22971528 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Complementary Therapies (methods)
• Computer Terminals
• Confidence Intervals
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperthermia, Induced
• Male
• Neck Pain (therapy)
• Occupational Diseases (therapy)
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care (methods)
• Pain Measurement
• Pilot Projects
• Quality of Life
• Republic of Korea
• Suction
• Young Adult