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CTRI Number  CTRI/2025/11/096764 [Registered on: 03/11/2025] Trial Registered Prospectively
Last Modified On: 31/10/2025
Post Graduate Thesis  No 
Type of Trial  Interventional 
Type of Study   Physiotherapy (Not Including YOGA) 
Study Design  Randomized, Parallel Group Trial 
Public Title of Study   COMPARING DRY CUPPING AND HOT MOIST PACK FOR SEVERE MENSTRUAL PAIN IN FEMALE ATHLETES 
Scientific Title of Study   Comparative effect of dry cupping and hot moist pack on primary dysmenorrhea and cardiovascular parameters in female athletes: A randomized clinical trial. 
Trial Acronym  NIL 
Secondary IDs if Any  
Secondary ID  Identifier 
NIL  NIL 
 
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)  
Name  Dr SANJANA PAMMANNAVAR 
Designation  Assistant professor department of sports physiotherapy 
Affiliation  KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy 
Address  Advanced Physiotherapy center,department of pediatric physiotherapy, room no 39, sagar floor, Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India

Belgaum
KARNATAKA
590010
India 
Phone  9380358281  
Fax    
Email  sanjanapammannavar@klekipt.edu.in  
 
Details of Contact Person
Scientific Query
 
Name  Dr SANJANA PAMMANNAVAR 
Designation  Assistant professor department of sports physiotherapy 
Affiliation  KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy 
Address  Advanced Physiotherapy center,department of pediatric physiotherapy, room no 39, sagar floor, Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India


KARNATAKA
590010
India 
Phone  9380358281  
Fax    
Email  sanjanapammannavar@klekipt.edu.in  
 
Details of Contact Person
Public Query
 
Name  Srushti Chavan 
Designation  Undergraduate student (intern) 
Affiliation  KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy 
Address  Advanced Physiotherapy center,department of pediatric physiotherapy, room no 39, sagar floor, Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India

Belgaum
KARNATAKA
590010
India 
Phone  09663874989  
Fax    
Email  chavansrushti500@gmail.com  
 
Source of Monetary or Material Support  
KLE Dr Prabhakar Kore hospital and research centre, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum 
 
Primary Sponsor  
Name  KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy 
Address  KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, JNMC Campus, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi-590010  
Type of Sponsor  Research institution and hospital 
 
Details of Secondary Sponsor  
Name  Address 
NIL  NIL 
 
Countries of Recruitment     India  
Sites of Study  
No of Sites = 1  
Name of Principal Investigator  Name of Site  Site Address  Phone/Fax/Email 
Dr Sanjana Pammannavar  KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy  Advanced Physiotherapy centre OPD NO.39 department of pediatric physiotherapy room no.21 sagar floor Belgaum KARNATAKA
Belgaum
KARNATAKA 
9380358281

sanjanapammannavar@klekipt.edu.in 
 
Details of Ethics Committee  
No of Ethics Committees= 1  
Name of Committee  Approval Status 
IEC KLE ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATIOM ANND RESEARCH  Approved 
 
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI  
Status 
Not Applicable 
 
Health Condition / Problems Studied  
Health Type  Condition 
Healthy Human Volunteers  athletes having dysmenorrhea 
 
Intervention / Comparator Agent  
Type  Name  Details 
Intervention  dry cupping therapy  dry cupping therapy will be given for first 3days of menstrual cycle for 3 consecutive months (at abdomen pr lowback) 
Comparator Agent  hot moist pack  hot most pack will be given for 15min on abdomen or low back for first 3 days of menstrual cycle for 3 consecutive months 
 
Inclusion Criteria  
Age From  18.00 Year(s)
Age To  30.00 Year(s)
Gender  Female 
Details  Female athletes [nulliparous)
Training commitment for 3 or more organized sessions weekly (for more than150 minutes structured sport participation)
Regular menstrual cycles with confirmed primary dysmenorrhea history
Pain intensity, On activity more than5, At rest more than 3 on VAS
Willingness to abstain from analgesic medications more than 6 hours prior to testing
Provision of written informed consent
Andreson and Milsom grade more than grade 2
 
 
ExclusionCriteria 
Details  Secondary dysmenorrhea conditions (endometriosis pelvic pathology)
Pregnancy or breastfeeding status
Bleeding disorders anticoagulant therapy or skin infections at potential cupping sites
Cardiovascular or neurological disorders
Medications affecting heart rate parameters
Contraindications to dry cupping therapy and hot moist pack
Inability to maintain supine/prone positioning for 30-40 minutes
 
 
Method of Generating Random Sequence   Computer generated randomization 
Method of Concealment   An Open list of random numbers 
Blinding/Masking   Participant and Outcome Assessor Blinded 
Primary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
VAS [visual analogue scale] pain intensity rating and Andreson and Milsom grade
 
VAS [visual analogue scale] pain intensity rating and Andreson and Milsom grade will be taken before and after the intervention that is at day 1 of start of the intervention and after 3 months once the intervention is over

 
 
Secondary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
Resting heart rate   Resting heart rate 60-second measurement wil be taken for each participant before anf after the intervention
 
Blood pressure

 
Blood pressure (average of 2 readings) will be taken before nad after the intervention  
pulse rate  will be measure before and after the intervention 
Menstrual distress questionnaire [MCQ]  will be taken before and after the intervention , it has 3 sections and will be scored out of 78 as mild, moderate and severe distress 
Perceived performance scale  will be taken before and after the intervention 
Simple Attendance Log   will be taken before and after the intervention  
 
Target Sample Size   Total Sample Size="56"
Sample Size from India="56" 
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" 
Phase of Trial   N/A 
Date of First Enrollment (India)   12/11/2025 
Date of Study Completion (India) Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials 
Date of First Enrollment (Global)  Date Missing 
Date of Study Completion (Global) Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials 
Estimated Duration of Trial   Years="0"
Months="5"
Days="0" 
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)   Not Applicable 
Recruitment Status of Trial (India)  Not Yet Recruiting 
Publication Details   N/A 
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement

Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?  

Response - NO
Brief Summary  

The title of the study is comparative study of dry cupping and hot moist pack on primary dysmenorrhea and cardiovascular parameters in female athletes. This study focuses on evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of dry cupping and hot moist pack in reducing menstrual pain (primary dysmenorrhea) and improving cardiovascular parameters (resting heart rate and blood pressure) among female athletes aged 18 to 30 years who are nulliparous. Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common menstrual disorders, characterized by painful uterine cramps in the absence of pelvic pathology. It is caused mainly by an increased production of prostaglandins, leading to uterine muscle contractions, ischemia, and pain. In athletes, these symptoms often result in decreased training performance, fatigue, and absenteeism from sports activities. Conventional treatment options like NSAIDs and hormonal contraceptives are effective but can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort, headaches, and drowsiness. Therefore, non pharmacological therapies such as heat application and cupping therapy are gaining attention for being safe, cost effective and drug free alternatives. Although dry cupping therapy has shown promising results for pain relief in general populations, there is limited research on its application specifically in female athletes. Athletes require fast and effective interventions that allow them to continue training without dependence on medication. Hot moist pack provide short-term relief but do not address the root cause of pain. Dry cupping through suction-induced negative pressure, may enhance blood circulation, reduce muscle tension and aid in faster recovery from pain. Hence, this study aims to generate scientific evidence comparing both techniques for menstrual pain management in athletes. this is a randomized clinical study done on age group of 18 to 30 years nulliparous female athletes with primary dysmenorrhea. the study is done on 56 participants with duration of 6 months in belagavi community and reginal sports club. The intervention given is two groups GROUP A dry cupping is given where it is applied to the lower abdomen/lumbosacral area for 15 minutes daily during the first 3 days of menstruation for three consecutive cycles. For GROUP B hot moist pack is given with the same schedule and duration, using moist heat applied to the same area. The primary outcome measure is visual analogue scale and andersch and milsom grading for pain where as secondary outcome are resting heart rate, blood pressure, pulse rate, attendance log, perceived performance scale, menstrual distress questionnaire. The expected outcome should be  that dry cupping therapy provides greater and long lasting relief from dysmenorrhea compared to hot moist packs. Additionally, cupping may positively influence cardiovascular recovery during menstruation, reflected by improved resting heart rate and blood pressure regulation. this study bridges the gap between traditional therapeutic methods and modern sports physiotherapy, aiming to establish dry cupping as a safe, effective. and evidence based intervention for menstrual pain management in female athletes.

 
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