The Use of Wet Cupping for Persistent Nonspecific Low Back Pain: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of wet cupping therapy as a single treatment for persistent
nonspecific low back pain (PNSLBP).
Design
Randomized controlled trial comparing wet cupping versus no treatment in PNSLBP.
Setting
Outpatient clinics in three secondary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia (King Fahd hospital in Jeddah, King Fahd hospital in Medina and King Salman hospital in Riyadh).
Patients
Eighty eligible participants with PNSLBP for at least 3 months were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 40) or to a control group (n = 40).
Interventions
Six triple stage wet cupping sessions within 2 weeks, each of which were done at two bladder meridian (BL) acupuncture points among BL23, BL24, and BL25. Medium sized plastic cups (4.3 cm) in diameter and 6
scarifications using autolancet were done. Acetaminophen was allowed as a rescue treatment in both groups.
Outcome Measures
The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), McGill Present Pain Intensity (PPI), and Osw