Can a simple massage technique beat cupping for desk job neck pain?
NCT ID NCT07731763
First seen Jul 28, 2026 · Last updated Jul 29, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether myofascial release—a manual therapy that targets tight muscle tissue—works better than dry cupping for easing pain and improving movement in IT professionals with trapezitis, a common neck and shoulder condition. Fifty-two participants will receive one of the two therapies alongside routine physical therapy. Researchers will measure pain levels, muscle flexibility, and daily function to see which approach offers more relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- myofascial release or dry cupping therapy
- What this could lead to
- If one technique proves more effective, it could offer a better treatment option for neck and shoulder pain in desk workers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 52 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Both therapies are generally safe but may cause temporary soreness or bruising.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 52 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jul 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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25 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: IT professionals aged 20-65 years diagnosed with trapezitis (upper trapezius myofascial pain) characterized by pain and tenderness in the upper trapezius region for at least 4 weeks. Participants must have a pain intensity of ≥3 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), exhibit restricted cervical range of motion or reduced upper trapezius muscle length as assessed using a goniometer. Functional disability must be present as indicated by a Neck Disability Index (NDI) score within the mild to moderate range (e.g., 10-28%), and be engaged in computer-based work for a minimum of 6 hours per day. Both male and female participants who provide informed consent will be included. Exclusion Criteria: Individuals with a history of cervical spine pathology including disc herniation, radiculopathy, or spondylosis with neurological involvement; previous trauma or surgery involving the cervical spine, shoulder girdle, or upper thoracic region; presence of symptomatic or inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia); neurological disorders affecting the upper limb or cervical region (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, myelopathy); skin conditions or contraindications to cupping therapy (e.g., open wounds, active infections, eczema, psoriasis); bleeding disorders or current anticoagulant therapy; pregnancy; and inability to comply with the treatment protocol or follow-up assessments will be excluded.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences
Lahore, Punjab Province, 53400, Pakistan