Journal article
The effectiveness of wet-cupping for nonspecific low back pain in Iran: A randomized controlled trial
Complementary therapies in medicine, Vol.17(1), pp.9-15
01/01/2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2008.05.003
PMID: 19114223
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the efficacy of wet-cupping for treating persistent nonspecific low back pain.
Background: Wet-cupping therapy is one of the oldest known medical techniques. It is still used in several contemporary societies. Very minimal empirical study has been conducted on its efficacy.
Design: Randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Patients in the experimental group were offered the option of referral to the wet-cupping service; all accepted that option. The control group received usual care.
Setting: Medical clinic in Kermanshah, Iran.
Participants: In total, 98 patients aged 17-68 years with nonspecific low back pain; 48 were randomly assigned to experimental group and 50 to the control group.
Intervention: Patients in the experimental group were prescribed a series of three staged wet-cupping treatments, placed at 3 days intervals (i.e., 0, 3, and 6 days). Patients in the control group received usual care from their general practitioner.
Main outcome measures: Three outcomes assessed at baseline and again 3 months following intervention: the McGill Present Pain Index, Oswestry Pain Disability Index, and the Medication Quantification Scale.
Results: Wet-cupping care was associated with clinically significant improvement at 3-month follow-up. The experimental group who received wet-cupping care had significantly lower levels of pain intensity ([95% confidence interval (CI) 1.72-2.60] mean difference = 2.17, p < 0.01), pain-retated disability (95% CI = 11.18-18.82, means difference = 14.99, p < 0.01), and medication use (95% Cl = 3.60-9.50, mean difference = 6.55, p < 0.01) than the control group. The differences in all three measures were maintained after controlling for age, gender, and duration of tower back pain in regression models (p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Traditional wet-cupping care delivered in a primary care setting was safe and acceptable to patients with nonspecific tow back pain. Wet-cupping care was significantly more effective in reducing bodily pain than usual care at 3-month follow-up. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The effectiveness of wet-cupping for nonspecific low back pain in Iran: A randomized controlled trial
- Creators
- Khosro Farhadi - Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesDavid C. Schwebel - University of Alabama at BirminghamMorteza Saeb - Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesMansour Choubsaz - Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesReza Mohammadi - Karolinska InstitutetAlireza Ahmadi - Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Complementary therapies in medicine, Vol.17(1), pp.9-15
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ctim.2008.05.003
- PMID
- 19114223
- NLM abbreviation
- Complement Ther Med
- ISSN
- 0965-2299
- eISSN
- 1873-6963
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2009
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984949183702771
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