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Effect of Massage and Dry Cupping on Hemodynamic Parameters of Cardiac Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Yaser Hamzehnejadi1, Parvin Mangolian Shahrbabaki2, Mina Mahmoodabadi3
1Nursing Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Insights
Massage therapy showed a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure for cardiac patients after three days. Dry cupping did not significantly impact hemodynamic parameters in critical care units.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Complementary Therapies
Background:
- Hemodynamic parameters are crucial indicators of cardiac patient stability in critical care.
- Non-pharmacological interventions like massage and dry cupping are explored for their potential benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of massage and dry cupping on hemodynamic parameters in cardiac patients.
- To evaluate if these interventions offer benefits beyond routine care.
Main Methods:
- A parallel randomized controlled trial involving 90 cardiac patients in critical care units.
- Patients were assigned to routine care, massage, or dry cupping groups for three consecutive nights.
- Hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation) were measured before and after interventions.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, or oxygen saturation among the groups.
- Diastolic blood pressure showed a significant decrease in the massage group on the third day of intervention.
- Dry cupping and the control group did not exhibit significant changes in diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Dry cupping demonstrated no significant effect on regulating hemodynamic parameters in this patient cohort.
- Massage therapy may have a modest effect, specifically reducing diastolic blood pressure in cardiac patients.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of these complementary therapies in critical cardiac care.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of massage versus dry cupping in addition to routine care on hemodynamic parameters of cardiac patients in critical care units.
Methods:
The present study was a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial that was conducted in the critical care units of Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, from 2019 to 2020. Ninety eligible patients)aged 18-75 years, no cardiac arrest in the past 72 hours, no severe dyspnea, no fever, and no cardiac pacemaker) were divided into massage (n = 30), dry cupping (n = 30), and control (n = 30) groups using the stratified block randomization method. The massage group received routine care and a head and face massage for 3 consecutive nights from the second day of admission. The dry cupping group received routine care and dry cupping between the third cervical vertebra and the fourth thoracic vertebra for 3 consecutive nights. The control group received only routine care, which included daily visits by the attending physician, nursing care, and medication. Each intervention session was performed for 15 minutes. The data collection tools included the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire and the hemodynamic parameters form (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and saturation of peripheral oxygen). The hemodynamic parameters were measured each night before and after the intervention.
Results:
The mean systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation level showed no significant difference among the 3 groups. The mean diastolic blood pressure of the 3 groups varied significantly over time. The mean diastolic blood pressure of the massage group decreased significantly on the third day of intervention, while it did not change significantly in the 2 groups of dry cupping or control (P < .05).
Conclusion:
According to the results of this study, dry cupping had no effect on regulating hemodynamic parameters, while only diastolic blood pressure was reduced significantly after massage on the third day of intervention. Therefore, our study did not show effects of massage and dry cupping on regulating hemodynamic parameters.
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