The Effect of Dry Cupping on Gastrocnemius Muscle Stiffness, Range of Motion and Pain Perception After Delayed Onset...

Cupping therapy originated in Eastern Medicine, became renowned in complementary medicine and is utilized as a therapeutic treatment in contemporary medicine for musculoskeletal issues. As with any modality, there is a question of efficacy.

This study investigated the effect of cupping therapy on muscle stiffness (MS), active dorsiflexion (DF) and perceived pain of the medial gastrocnemius muscle following a cupping therapy treatment.

Single cohort design included 20 physically active, healthy participants (10 women, 10 men; age: 22.9 years ± 3.35 years) completed an exercise protocol to induce delayed onset muscle soreness in both lower legs.

A 5-minute dry cupping treatment was performed on the dominant leg medial gastrocnemius and 5 minutes of rest for the non-dominant control leg.

Muscle stiffness, active dorsiflexion and perceived pain were measured at baseline, pre-treatment, post-treatment and 5 minutes post-treatment in the medial gastrocnemius muscle. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the main effect and interaction for condition and time.

Active DF was significantly different from baseline to pre-treatment, post-treatment and 5 minutes post-treatment (P < .001, P < .001, P = .01, respectively). Pre-treatment to 5 minutes post-treatment, active DF was also significantly different (P = .05). Active DF was significantly improved post-treatment and 5 minutes post-treatment. Baseline pain was significantly different from pre-treatment, post-treatment and 5 minutes post-treatment measurements (P < .001, P < .001, P < .001, respectively). Pre-treatment pain was significantly different from post-treatment and 5 minutes post-treatment pain (P = .009, P < .001, respectively). Post-treatment pain was also significantly different from 5 minutes post-treatment pain (P = .007). MS was not significant at any of the time points (P = .398) or between conditions (P = .140).

A single cupping treatment significantly improved active DF and decreased pain was observed in the treatment group. No significant difference in MS was observed following the treatment.