Dry cupping for plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, significantly impacting daily activities and quality of life.
• Conservative treatments are sought to alleviate pain and restore function in individuals with plantar fasciitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of dry cupping therapy compared to electrical stimulation therapy for managing pain and improving function in patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 29 participants (15-59 years) with plantar fasciitis.
• Participants were assigned to either dry cupping therapy or electrical stimulation therapy, receiving treatment twice weekly for 4 weeks.
• Outcome measures included the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and pressure pain threshold.

Main Results:

• Both dry cupping and electrical stimulation therapies demonstrated significant reductions in pain and improvements in function for plantar fasciitis patients.
• Statistical analysis indicated that 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for pain and function measures did not include 0, suggesting significant effects.
• No statistically significant differences were observed between the dry cupping therapy group and the electrical stimulation therapy group across all measured outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Dry cupping therapy is an effective treatment for reducing pain and enhancing function in individuals suffering from plantar fasciitis.
• Electrical stimulation therapy also proves effective in alleviating pain and improving function in plantar fasciitis patients.
• The study supports both dry cupping and electrical stimulation as viable therapeutic options for plantar fasciitis, with comparable efficacy.