Brachialgia Paraesthetica can be relieved by Scarification
and Cupping
by Uwe Abrecht, Klinikum Benjamin Franklin, FU Berlin
06/96 - 02/99
The aim of this study was to show that scarification and cupping within the fibrous area of the m. trapezius is efficacious in the treatment of Brachialgia paraesthetica nocturna. The main outcome parameter was the absolute change of the complaints over seven days. The severity of complaints was based on an eleven-stage scale and consisted of three main indications: pain, formication, numbnes and tingling sensation.
Patients
20 patients of all age groups were included in the study. The including criteria were an existing brachialgia paraesthetica nocturna, pathological changes within the fibrous area of the shoulders, chronic tonsillitis.
Design
The trial was designed as a monocentral, randomised, controlled and open study with a sequentiel design with two parallel branches of therapies. Group 'Therapy I´ was untreated , Group 'Therapy II´ was scarificated and cupped. The study was carried out at the department of pain therapy in Rüdersdorf hospital.
Results
The study indicated that patients with scarification and cupping treatment (Therapy II) did significantly better than those without treatment (Therapy I). This method was significantly superior (p=0.0017). The difference between both therapies is 1.75 times higher than the standard deviation within each therapy group.
Conclusions
The trial has high internal and external validity. The study design, however, offers no conclusions whether this method is a specific treatment for Brachialgia or if scarification and cupping aids in permanent relief of pain as the duration of the observation period was only one week.
Prüfplan der Studie: Schröpftherapie der Brachialgie (Zusammenfassung)
In: Albrecht H, Frühwald M, eds. Jahrbuch der Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Band 3 (1996). Stuttgart: Hippokrates; 1997: 209-210.
Albrecht U, Lüdtke R, Bühring M
Offene randomisierte Studie zur Schröpfbehandlung der Brachialgia paraesthetica nocturna
In: Albrecht H, Frühwald M, eds. Jahrbuch der Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Band 5 (1998). Essen: KVC; 1999: 65-75.
Albrecht U, Lüdtke R, Bühring M
Zum Zusammenhang einer chronischen Tonsillitis mit Verquellungen von Bindegewebszonen und einer Brachialgie paraesthetica nocturne
In: Albrecht H, Frühwald M, eds. Jahrbuch der Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Band 5 (1998). Essen: KVC; 1999: 49-63.
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