Cupping in Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Charité University Medicine Berlin

Status

Completed

Conditions

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Treatments

Device: Pulsatile cupping

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01057043

EAI /230/09

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this exploratory randomised trial is to study the effect of pulsatile cupping in osteoarthritis of the knee compared to waiting list control.

Full description

Cupping is a traditional therapy in many cultures of the world and is used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. In this randomised trial we want to study the effect of pulsatile cupping in osteoarthritis of the knee compared to waiting list control. Pulsatile cupping is administered by a special cupping machine (HeVaTec) with silicone cupping glasses to the knee joint. Pulsatile pressure is generated by a pump that generates vacuum.

Enrollment

40 patients

Sex

All

Ages

40 to 80 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Osteoarthritis of the knee according ACR-criteria
X-ray classification minimum Kellgren-Lawrence criteria grade 2
Pain Intensity > 40 mm VAS
Only therapy with NSAIDin the last 4 weeks
Informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Use of anticoagulants (Phenprocoumon, Heparin)
Coagulopathy
Cupping in the last 12 months
Intraarticular injection of corticosteroids or NSAID into the knee joint in the last 4 months
Use of systemic corticosteroids in the last 4 weeks
Physical therapy, leeches or acupuncture in the last 4 months
Other CAM therapies for the osteoarthritis in the last 4 weeks
Arthroscopy of the knee joint in the last 12 months
Paracetamol allergy or intolerance