Scapulocostal SyndromeCMR = CompressNCT07102355
Comparative Effectiveness of Dry Cupping and Graston Techniques in Scapulocostal Syndrome.
A study testing Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping and Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique in people with Scapulocostal Syndrome, run by University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan at 4 sites in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to check the comparative effectiveness of Graston Techniques and Dry cupping in Office Workers with Scapulocostal syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. To evaluate the relative effectiveness of dry cupping and the Graston technique. 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Scapulocostal Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping and Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesPakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2024to 13 Sep 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 30 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 18-30 age group
- Males and females
- Office Workers.
- Subjects that have symptoms of musculoskeletal nature (
- Subjects with pain lasting for longer than 3 months (
Who cannot join
- Subjects with underlying pathology such as TOS, brachial neuralgia, cervical radiculopathy, polymyositis or Fibro myositis
- Subjects with systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
- Subjects with the presence of any fractures
- Heart/diabetic patients
- Pregnant women
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country.
Pakistan4 sites
Bethania Hospital
Lahore, 54910
Bethania Hospital Sialkot
Sialkot, Punjab Province, 51310
University of Management and technology Sialkot Campus
Sialkot, 54000
Bethania Hospital
Sialkot
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effectiveness of Dry Cupping and Graston Techniques in Office Workers With Scapulocostal Syndrome; A Randomised Clinical Trail
The goal of this clinical trial is to check the comparative effectiveness of Graston Techniques and Dry cupping in Office Workers with Scapulocostal syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- To evaluate the relative effectiveness of dry cupping and the Graston technique.
- How well each technique reduces symptoms and enhances work productivity and functional outcomes.
- To assess whether integrating either Graston Technique or Dry Cupping provides more beneficial effects than conventional treatment alone.
- Be divided into 2 Groups (Group A= Dry Cupping; B: Graston Techniques) 2) get the treatment for 4 weeks (3 days a week). 3) Receive the same conventional treatment.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Graston and Dry cupping in treating Scapulocostal syndrome in office workers, focusing on specific outcomes like pain severity, functional outcomes, and work productivity.
This study will be a randomized clinical trial with a sample size of 46 participants with work-related SCS. The participants will be obtained by non-probability convenient sampling based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups, with 23 subjects in each group. Group A will receive dry cupping along with conventional therapy while Group B will receive IASTM along with conventional therapy.
- Conditions
- Scapulocostal Syndrome
- Being tested
- Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping, Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique
- Keywords
- Scapulocostal Syndrome, Myofascilal pain syndrome,, Graston Technique, Dry Cupping Therapy, Cervical Range of Motion
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Experimental: Group A = Dry CuppingOther
Dry cupping, originating in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, gained popularity in the United States after the 2016 Summer Olympics. It has two main forms: wet and dry cupping. Wet cupping involves laceration of the skin, while dry cupping uses negative pressure to pull the skin into the cup. Cupping is used to reduce musculoskeletal or myofascial pain, with the most accepted mechanism being localized hyperemia, which improves microcirculation and promotes healing
Experimental: Group B = Graston TechniqueOther
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), derived from Cyriax cross-friction massage, is a popular alternative to traditional manual therapy techniques, with its first controlled study published in 1997 (Seffrin \& Gardiner-Shires, 2019) .The Graston Technique(GT), also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), is used by chiropractors, doctors, and therapists to alleviate pain and range-of-motion restrictions caused by musculoskeletal injuries and scar tissue. (McKivigan, J. M., \& Tulimero, G. et al. , 2020) . The Graston technique, is also used to alleviate upper cervical pain.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group A = Dry Cupping | Experimental | Group A will receive Dru cupping along with conventional treatment. Receives: Other: Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping |
| Group B = Graston Technique | Experimental | Group B will receive Graston Technique with Conventional treatment. Receives: Other: Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change From Baseline in Pain Intensity as Measured by the Visual Analog Scale
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 100 mm horizontal line anchored by two extremes: 0 mm represents "no pain" and 100 mm represents "worst imaginable pain." Participants will mark the point that best represents their pain intensity. The score is the distance in millimeters from the left end to the mark. Change in pain intensity will be calculated by subtracting the Week 4 score from the baseline score. A decrease in VAS score indicates an improvement in pain levels.
Measured: 4 Weeks
Cervical Range of Motion (ROM)
Cervical spine Range of Motion (ROM) will be assessed and measured using a universal goniometer by utilizing moving and stationary arm of angles in cervical spine range of motion..
Measured: 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Neck Disability Index (NDI) Total Score
The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is a validated 10-item questionnaire assessing neck-specific disability. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, resulting in a total score range of 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater disability. The change in total NDI score from baseline to Week 4 will be calculated. A decrease in score indicates clinical improvement.
Measured: 4 Weeks
Treatment-Related Adverse Events During the 4-Week Intervention
Treatment-related adverse events (AEs), such as skin irritation, bruising, or discomfort, will be recorded throughout the study. The number of participants experiencing at least one AE will be counted. All AEs will be assessed for severity and relatedness to the intervention.
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Aug 2025
- Study start1 Oct 2024
- Primary completion25 Jan 2025
- Study completion13 Sep 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Scapulocostal SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Model description
- A convenient sampling technique was used. Data collection was initiated after taking the content form, and then participants were divided into two groups by lottery: Group A and Group B. Group A was given Dry cupping, and Group B was given the Graston Technique along with Conventional Treatment.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Danyal Ahmad, University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
- Investigators
- Danyal Ahmad, PhD Scholar, Principal investigator, University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07102355
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- kuhs/dpt/umt-skt-016
- Acronym
- CMR = Compress
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 30 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Individual Participant Data (IPD) will not be shared, or may not be shared, due to concerns regarding participant confidentiality and privacy, limitations of informed consent that did not explicitly include data sharing, and the risk of re-identification even after anonymization.
Publications
Influence of Rolfing Structural Integration on Active Range of Motion: A Retrospective Cohort Study [Internet]. [cited 2025 Oct 19]. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/19/5878
Sharma S, Kaur H, Verma N, Adhya B. Looking beyond Piriformis Syndrome: Is It Really the Piriformis? Hip Pelvis. 2023 Mar;35(1):1-5. doi: 10.5371/hp.2023.35.1.1. Epub 2023 Mar 6.
PubMed 36937215Aslam S, Rahim R, Ejaz U, Tariq ZB, Guftar F. Effects of Myofascial Release Technique on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients with Piriformis Syndrome. HJPRS [Internet]. 2025 Aug 23 [cited 2025 Oct 19];5(2):56-61.
Seffrin CB, Cattano NM, Reed MA, Gardiner-Shires AM. Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: A Systematic Review and Effect-Size Analysis. J Athl Train. 2019 Jul;54(7):808-821. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-481-17. Epub 2019 Jul 19.
PubMed 31322903Buttagat V, Taepa N, Suwannived N, Rattanachan N. Effects of scapular stabilization exercise on pain related parameters in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Jan;20(1):115-122. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.07.036. Epub 2015 Jul 26.
PubMed 26891646Elsayyad MM, Abdel-Aal NM, Helal ME. Effect of Adding Neural Mobilization Versus Myofascial Release to Stabilization Exercises after Lumbar Spine Fusion: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Feb;102(2):251-260. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.07.009. Epub 2020 Aug 19.
PubMed 32827553
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effectiveness of Dry Cupping and Graston Techniques in Office Workers With Scapulocostal Syndrome; A Randomised Clinical Trail
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07102355
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CMR = Compress / kuhs/dpt/umt-skt-016
- Conditions
- Scapulocostal Syndrome
- Keywords
- Scapulocostal Syndrome, Myofascilal pain syndrome,, Graston Technique, Dry Cupping Therapy, Cervical Range of Motion
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology Sialkot PakistanUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Sep 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to check the comparative effectiveness of Graston Techniques and Dry cupping in Office Workers with Scapulocostal syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- To evaluate the relative effectiveness of dry cupping and the Graston technique.
- How well each technique reduces symptoms and enhances work productivity and functional outcomes.
- To assess whether integrating either Graston Technique or Dry Cupping provides more beneficial effects than conventional treatment alone.
- Be divided into 2 Groups (Group A= Dry Cupping; B: Graston Techniques) 2) get the treatment for 4 weeks (3 days a week). 3) Receive the same conventional treatment.
Detailed description
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Graston and Dry cupping in treating Scapulocostal syndrome in office workers, focusing on specific outcomes like pain severity, functional outcomes, and work productivity.
This study will be a randomized clinical trial with a sample size of 46 participants with work-related SCS. The participants will be obtained by non-probability convenient sampling based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups, with 23 subjects in each group. Group A will receive dry cupping along with conventional therapy while Group B will receive IASTM along with conventional therapy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- A convenient sampling technique was used. Data collection was initiated after taking the content form, and then participants were divided into two groups by lottery: Group A and Group B. Group A was given Dry cupping, and Group B was given the Graston Technique along with Conventional Treatment.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group A = Dry Cupping | Experimental | Other: Experimental: Group A = Dry CuppingGroup A will receive Dru cupping along with conventional treatment. |
| Group B = Graston Technique | Experimental | Other: Experimental: Group B = Graston TechniqueGroup B will receive Graston Technique with Conventional treatment. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 18-30 age group
- Males and females
- Office Workers.
- Subjects that have symptoms of musculoskeletal nature (
- Subjects with pain lasting for longer than 3 months (
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Subjects with underlying pathology such as TOS, brachial neuralgia, cervical radiculopathy, polymyositis or Fibro myositis
- Subjects with systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
- Subjects with the presence of any fractures
- Heart/diabetic patients
- Pregnant women
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Group A = Dry CuppingDry cupping, originating in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, gained popularity in the United States after the 2016 Summer Olympics. It has two main forms: wet and dry cupping. Wet cupping involves laceration of the skin, while dry cupping uses negative pressure to pull the skin into the cup. Cupping is used to reduce musculoskeletal or myofascial pain, with the most accepted mechanism being localized hyperemia, which improves microcirculation and promotes healing | Other | Group A = Dry Cupping |
| Experimental: Group B = Graston TechniqueInstrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), derived from Cyriax cross-friction massage, is a popular alternative to traditional manual therapy techniques, with its first controlled study published in 1997 (Seffrin \& Gardiner-Shires, 2019) .The Graston Technique(GT), also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), is used by chiropractors, doctors, and therapists to alleviate pain and range-of-motion restrictions caused by musculoskeletal injuries and scar tissue. (McKivigan, J. M., \& Tulimero, G. et al. , 2020) . The Graston technique, is also used to alleviate upper cervical pain. | Other | Group B = Graston Technique |
Primary outcome
Change From Baseline in Pain Intensity as Measured by the Visual Analog Scale
Time frame: 4 Weeks
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 100 mm horizontal line anchored by two extremes: 0 mm represents "no pain" and 100 mm represents "worst imaginable pain." Participants will mark the point that best represents their pain intensity. The score is the distance in millimeters from the left end to the mark. Change in pain intensity will be calculated by subtracting the Week 4 score from the baseline score. A decrease in VAS score indicates an improvement in pain levels.
Cervical Range of Motion (ROM)
Time frame: 4 weeks
Cervical spine Range of Motion (ROM) will be assessed and measured using a universal goniometer by utilizing moving and stationary arm of angles in cervical spine range of motion..
2 secondary outcomes
Neck Disability Index (NDI) Total Score
Time frame: 4 Weeks
Treatment-Related Adverse Events During the 4-Week Intervention
Time frame: 4 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Dec 2025.
- Results publicationInfluence of Rolfing Structural Integration on Active Range of Motion: A Retrospective Cohort Study [Internet]. [cited 2025 Oct 19]. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/19/5878
- Results publication: PubMed 36937215Sharma S, Kaur H, Verma N, Adhya B. Looking beyond Piriformis Syndrome: Is It Really the Piriformis? Hip Pelvis. 2023 Mar;35(1):1-5. doi: 10.5371/hp.2023.35.1.1. Epub 2023 Mar 6.
- Results publicationAslam S, Rahim R, Ejaz U, Tariq ZB, Guftar F. Effects of Myofascial Release Technique on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients with Piriformis Syndrome. HJPRS [Internet]. 2025 Aug 23 [cited 2025 Oct 19];5(2):56-61.
- Results publication: PubMed 31322903Seffrin CB, Cattano NM, Reed MA, Gardiner-Shires AM. Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: A Systematic Review and Effect-Size Analysis. J Athl Train. 2019 Jul;54(7):808-821. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-481-17. Epub 2019 Jul 19.
- Results publication: PubMed 26891646Buttagat V, Taepa N, Suwannived N, Rattanachan N. Effects of scapular stabilization exercise on pain related parameters in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Jan;20(1):115-122. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.07.036. Epub 2015 Jul 26.
- Results publication: PubMed 32827553Elsayyad MM, Abdel-Aal NM, Helal ME. Effect of Adding Neural Mobilization Versus Myofascial Release to Stabilization Exercises after Lumbar Spine Fusion: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Feb;102(2):251-260. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.07.009. Epub 2020 Aug 19.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Individual Participant Data (IPD) will not be shared, or may not be shared, due to concerns regarding participant confidentiality and privacy, limitations of informed consent that did not explicitly include data sharing, and the risk of re-identification even after anonymization.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Danyal Ahmad, PhD Scholar principal investigator
University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
4 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Experimental: Group A = Dry Cupping and Experimental: Group B = Graston Technique in people with Scapulocostal Syndrome, run by University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan at 4 sites in Pakistan.
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 5 inclusion and 5 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 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 4 sites in Pakistan. 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?
Change From Baseline in Pain Intensity as Measured by the Visual Analog Scale (time frame: 4 Weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07102355, which also lists 6 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 Dec 2025.