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Cupping for stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review
Myeong Soo Lee1, Tae-Young Choi, Byung-Cheul Shin
1Division of Standard Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. drmslee@gmail.com
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|May 4, 2010
Summary
Cupping therapy shows mixed results for stroke rehabilitation. While some studies suggest benefits for pain and muscle function, more high-quality research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Background:
- Cupping therapy is a traditional practice frequently employed in Asian countries for stroke rehabilitation.
- A comprehensive systematic review evaluating the efficacy of cupping for stroke rehabilitation is currently lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and critically appraise the existing evidence regarding the effectiveness of cupping therapy in stroke rehabilitation.
- To identify the strengths and limitations of current research on cupping for stroke recovery.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across thirteen databases from inception to March 2010, without language restrictions.
- Included studies were prospective clinical trials investigating cupping as a standalone or adjunctive treatment for stroke rehabilitation.
- Five studies, including three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and two uncontrolled observational studies (UOSs), met the inclusion criteria.
Main Results:
- Two RCTs indicated superior effects of cupping compared to acupuncture for hemiplegic shoulder pain and upper-limb myodynamia.
- One RCT found no significant benefits of cupping over acupuncture and warm needling for hemiplegic hand edema.
- Two UOSs reported positive outcomes for cupping in treating post-stroke aphasia and intractable hiccups.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence base is insufficient to definitively establish the effectiveness of cupping for stroke rehabilitation due to methodological limitations and comparisons with unproven interventions.
- Further high-quality randomized clinical trials are necessary to overcome existing shortcomings and provide reliable evidence on cupping's role in stroke recovery.
