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Cervical SpondylosisNCT06093997

Study on the Treatment of C/S of Qi Stagnation and Blood-stasis Type by Moving Cupping With Bloodletting

A study testing Massage treatment, Cupping and Bloodletting in people with Cervical Spondylosis, run by Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this Clinical randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of cupping combined with bloodletting in the treatment of cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Cervical Spondylosis
What is being tested?
Massage treatment, Cupping and Bloodletting
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
62 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
28 Feb 2024to 7 May 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients who meet the diagnostic criteria (Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis conforms to the diagnostic criteria for cervical spondylosis of qi and blood stasis type in the "Guiding Principles for Clinical Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine New Drugs". Western medicine diagnosis adopts the diagnostic criteria for cervical spondylosis developed at the "Third National Symposium on Cervical Spondylosis" held in April 2008 at Dongfang Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University.);
  • The course of the disease is more than 3 months;
  • Gender unlimited ④ Age 18-80 years old; ⑤ No history of neck and shoulder surgery; ⑥ Those who have not received relevant treatment in the past month; ⑦ Those who voluntarily participate in this study and sign an informed consent form.

Who cannot join

  • Head and neck injuries;
  • Patients with a tendency to bleed;
  • Pregnant and lactating women;
  • Concomitant with serious primary diseases such as heart, cerebrovascular disease, liver, kidney, etc;
  • Individuals with severe mental illness or cognitive impairment;
  • Individuals with acute infection or local skin damage due to local trauma; ⑦ Patients with infectious diseases transmitted through blood; ⑧ Those who cannot persist in receiving treatment according to the prescribed time.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site

  • Medical Outpatient Department of Shanghai Qigong Research Institute

    Shanghai

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Study on the Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis of Qi Stagnation and Blood-stasis Type by Moving Cupping Combined With Bloodletting

The goal of this Clinical randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of cupping combined with bloodletting in the treatment of cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type. The main question it aims to answer is: How to remove stasis and prolong the time of promoting blood circulation. Participants will adopt the combination of cupping and bloodletting therapy.Researchers will compare massage treatment to see if the combination of cupping and bloodletting puncture is more effective in treating cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type

Read the detailed description

In recent years, the incidence rate of cervical spondylosis has continued to rise. Among them, cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type, mainly characterized by neck and shoulder pain, is mainly treated by activating blood to remove blood stasis, regulating qi and unblocking collaterals due to blood stasis and qi stagnation and blocked muscles and collaterals. Massage therapy is the most commonly used in clinical practice, but its maintenance time is short and clinical symptoms recur. How to remove stasis and prolong the time of blood circulation is the key to treatment.

Walking cupping has the function of unblocking meridians and regulating qi and blood. Compared to massage, kneading, and pressing to stimulate acupoints, walking cupping also increases the scope of stimulation. If it is not clear, it will cause pain, while if it is clear, it will not cause pain. By pricking the meridians and releasing blood, it can activate the meridians, dispel blood stasis, and relieve pain. After cupping, pricking and bleeding can increase the amount of bleeding. The combination of the two can further alleviate symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain and stiffness in patients, and improve the therapeutic effect.

Based on this, this project randomly divided 62 patients with cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type into a control group and an experimental group. The control group received massage treatment, while the experimental group received cupping combined with bloodletting therapy. Using the Northwick Park Neck Pain Scale score as the primary outcome measure; Cervical mobility measurement, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, and adverse reactions are secondary outcome indicators. Objectively evaluate the efficacy of cupping combined with bloodletting puncture in the treatment of cervical spondylosis patients with qi stagnation and blood stasis, promote suitable techniques with traditional Chinese medicine characteristics for treating cervical spondylosis, and help cervical spondylosis patients recover their daily life and work abilities as soon as possible.

Being tested
Massage treatment, Cupping, Bloodletting
Keywords
Cervical Spondylosis of Qi Stagnation and Blood-stasis Type
Medical subject headings
Spondylosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Massage treatmentOther

    The patient sits upright and the neck naturally relaxes. The doctor uses techniques such as pressing and kneading to relax the soft tissues of the neck, and massages points such as FengMen, FengChi, JingJiaji, JianJing,Tianzong and so on. The focus is on using muscle relaxation techniques around the soft tissues of spasms and pain areas to relax the patient's neck and shoulders. All procedures were performed from mild to severe, once a week for 15 minutes each time, for a total of 4 weeks of treatment.

  • CuppingOther

    Use a 4-5cm diameter suction cupping for cupping. The treatment area is coated with glycerol, and the cupping is aspirated and adsorbed on the skin. The cupping is slowly pushed along the patient's neck, along the urinary bladder channel of Foot-Taiyang and governor's meridians from top to bottom, repeating back and forth 9 times. Once a week, for a total of 4 weeks of treatment.

  • BloodlettingOther

    the doctor takes JianZhongShu, one on the left and one on the right, with a total of 2 acupoints. After disinfecting with 75% alcohol cotton balls, the patient is quickly pricked 5 times with a blood collection needle, and cupping is performed at the needle hole. After 5 minutes, remove the jar, wipe the blood clean, and disinfect the needle hole. Once a week, for a total of 4 weeks of treatment.

Study groups in NCT06093997
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental GroupExperimentalCupping and bloodletting therapy
Receives: Other: Cupping; Other: Bloodletting
Control GroupExperimentalMassage treatment
Receives: Other: Massage treatment

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. The Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire

    Including clinical symptoms (degree and duration of neck pain, etc.) and quality of life (sleep time, impact on reading and watching TV, impact on social activities, etc.), a total of 9 items, with a total score of 32-36 points. The final score is converted into a percentage system, and the higher the score, the worse the cervical condition.

    Measured: Before treatment, 1 week after treatment, 4 weeks after treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment

Secondary outcomes (3)

  1. Measurement of cervical spine mobility

    Measure the angles of cervical spine flexion, extension, left flexion, right flexion, left rotation, and right rotation using a cervical spine mobility measuring instrument.

    Measured: Before treatment, 1 week after treatment, 4 weeks after treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment

  2. Scoring of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome

    Referring to the Guiding Principles for Clinical Research of New Chinese Medicine (Trial), the symptom grading of cervical spondylosis includes strong neck pain, limb numbness, dizziness, headache, limb paralysis, palpitations, insomnia, tinnitus, and chills; Score 0, 2, 4, and 6 points based on none, light, medium, and heavy, respectively. The total score is 0-54 points, and the lower the total score, the lighter the clinical symptoms.

    Measured: Before treatment, 1 week after treatment, 4 weeks after treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment

  3. Adverse reactions

    Record the occurrence of adverse events during the patient's treatment, including the type and number of adverse reactions.

    Measured: Before treatment, 1 week after treatment, 4 weeks after treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted23 Oct 2023
  2. Study start28 Feb 2024
  3. Primary completion7 May 2025
  4. Study completion7 May 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
62 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06093997
Sponsor's protocol ID
I111
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
20 Sep 2023
Last updated
30 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: This plan has not been approved by the Clinical Ethics Committee.

Publications

  • Cervical Spondylosis Professional Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation. Medical Association Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Cervical Spondylosis [S]: Beijing: Cervical Spondylosis Professional Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medical Association, 2010.

  • Jin Y. The clinical research progress of traditional Chinese medicine characteristic therapy in the treatment of cervical spondylosis. Chinese folk therapy. 2017. 25 (09): 103-104.

  • Lian L, Zhang S. Clinical observation on the treatment of vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis with heat sensitive moxibustion combined with bloodletting. Journal of Modern Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. 2018. 27 (31): 3468-3470.

  • Chen L, Li M, Fan L, Zhu X, Liu J, Li H, Xu Z, Chen J, Liang Z, Liu Z, Feng L, Chen X, He Q, Chen X, Ou A, He J, Ma R, Ning B, Jiang L, Li S, Fu W. Optimized acupuncture treatment (acupuncture and intradermal needling) for cervical spondylosis-related neck pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Pain. 2021 Mar 1;162(3):728-739. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002071.

    PubMed 32947547

  • Wu P, Wang J, Wang W, Gu J, Wu Z. Study on the Optimization of Acupuncture and Bleeding Analgesia Schemes for Cervical Spondylosis of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type. Chinese Journal of Basic Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2018. 24 (11): 1582-1585.

  • Hai Q, Zhao L. Clinical observation on the treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type with cupping and bloodletting therapy of Mongolian medicine combined with acupuncture and moxibustion. Chinese Journal of Ethnic Medicine. 2020.26 (08): 28-29.

  • Yang X. Observation on therapeutic effect of Chinese massage combined with acupuncture and moxibustion on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Chinese folk therapy. 2014. 22 (07): 26.

  • Luo G, Tang Z. Observation on the therapeutic effect of moving cupping combined with stasis needle technique on lumbar fasciitis. Journal of Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2015. 31 (11): 1044.

  • Jiang Q. The combination of cupping and scraping for the treatment of back myofasciitis. Massage and Rehabilitation Medicine June. 2015 (21): 18-19.

  • Peng T, Gong H, Hu S, Zhou C, Xie G, Xiong J. Clinical observation on the treatment of neck shoulder syndrome with scraping combined with cupping therapy. Shanghai acupuncture and moxibustion Journal. 2016. 35 (06): 713-715.

  • Jiang M, Peng T. The combination of meridian scraping and cupping therapy for the treatment of neck dorsalis myofascitis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2022. 37 (01): 197-200.

  • Li H, Ma F, Zhang W, Zhao N, Hai X, Wang J. Clinical study on the treatment of nerve root cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type with phased differentiation and massage therapy. Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2017. 35 (04): 939-942.

  • Hu Y, Yang J, Li L. Progress in the treatment of vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis with acupuncture, moxibustion and massage. Hebei Medicine. 2015. 21 (08): 1532-1534.

  • Ma Z, Fu A, Wang Y, Chen Z. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with bloodletting therapy on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and its impact on pain and blood viscosity. National Medical Forum. 2019. 34 (01): 23-24.

  • Huang F, Wang H, Sun C, Wang L, Yin J, Zhang Q. Acupuncture and push combined with bloodletting therapy for treating 35 cases of cervical spondylosis with qi stagnation and blood stasis. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2019. 46 (01): 144-147.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Massage treatment, Cupping and Bloodletting in people with Cervical Spondylosis, run by Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (time frame: Before treatment, 1 week after treatment, 4 weeks after treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06093997, which also lists 17 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Apr 2026.

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