Cupping therapy fails to beat sham for back pain relief
NCT ID NCT06193603
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether dry cupping therapy, combined with routine physiotherapy, helps people with chronic non-specific low back pain more than a sham (fake) cupping treatment. Forty-eight adults with pain lasting at least 3 months took part. The results showed that real cupping did not provide extra benefits for pain, function, or quality of life compared to the sham procedure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- dry cupping therapy
- What this could lead to
- If effective, cupping therapy could offer a non-drug option to help ease chronic low back pain when added to standard physiotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial that found cupping therapy did not improve pain or function more than a sham procedure. The results suggest it may not provide real benefit beyond placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Iran University of Medical Sciences
Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
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