Comparative Effect of Myofascial Cupping Therapy to Stretching Exercises on Gastrocnemius Soreness

Abstract

Background: Gastrocnemius muscle soreness often arises from overuse or insufficient recovery, leading to reduced dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM). Emerging therapies, including myofascial cupping therapy and traditional stretching, aim to alleviate muscle soreness and enhance ROM. Objective: The study aimed to compare the effects of myofascial cupping therapy and stretching exercises on reducing gastrocnemius soreness and determining which method is more effective in improving the dorsiflexion ROM of the ankle joint. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed with convenient sampling. The study included 36 participants, divided into two intervention groups: myofascial cupping and stretching exercise. Both interventions were administered, and soreness was assessed using a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Active dorsiflexion of each ankle was measured using a goniometer. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23, with an alpha level set at 0.05. Results: The study found a statistically significant decrease in soreness levels post-intervention in both groups. Participants in the myofascial cupping group demonstrated a mean soreness decrease from 5.2222 to 2.6667 with a standard deviation change from 2.21108 to 0.76696. In contrast, the stretching group showed a mean decrease from 5.2222 to 1.9444, with standard deviation changing from 2.21108 to 0.72536. Regarding ROM, the myofascial cupping group showed an improvement from an average of 4.3333 (SD = 1.94029) to 4.9444 (SD = 2.43678), while the stretching group showed changes from 4.3333 (SD = 1.94029) to 4.3333 (SD = 1.94029). Conclusion: Both myofascial cupping therapy and stretching exercises were effective in reducing gastrocnemius soreness and improving dorsiflexion ROM of the ankle joint. However, myofascial cupping therapy was more significant in its effects, making it a preferable intervention over stretching exercises for treating immediate onset muscle soreness (IOMS) and improving ROM.