Cupping therapy and chronic back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives:to evaluate the evidence from the literature regarding the effects of cupping therapy on chronic back pain in adults, the most used outcomes to evaluate this condition, the protocol used to apply the intervention and to investigate the effectiveness of cupping therapy on the intensity of chronic back pain. Method:systematic review and meta-analysis carried out by two independent researchers in national and international databases. Reference lists of systematic reviews were also explored. The quality of evidence was assessed according to the Jadad scale. Results:611 studies were identified, of which 16 were included in the qualitative analysis and 10 in the quantitative analysis. Cupping therapy has shown positive results on chronic back pain. There is no standardization in the treatment protocol. The main assessed outcomes were pain intensity, physical incapacity, quality of life and nociceptive threshold before the mechanical stimulus. There was a significant reduction in the pain intensity score through the use of cupping therapy (p = 0.001). Conclusion:cupping therapy is a promising method for the treatment of chronic back pain in adults. There is the need to establish standardized application protocols for this intervention.

Effect of cupping therapy on the level of pain and neuromuscular variables in women with low back pain

“…Regarding the change in the muscular strength of the trunk extensors of individuals who have reported low back pain, it can be related to changes in neural adaptation and the consequent modification in motor control due to chronic pain (25) , which can generate functional limitations, and consequent limitation in activities of daily living (26) .…”

The Role of Cupping Therapy in Pain Management: A Literature Review

“…Cupping therapy has been used for a long time for both acute and chronic low back pain. Studies have shown significant reduction in pain intensity scores and improvement in functional outcome tools with cupping compared to other modalities of treatment like usual care or medications [34,35]. Wang et al conducted a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials (RCTs).…”

An Overview of Cupping Treatment

“…78 Kronik bel ağrısında kupa tedavisinin etkinliğini değerlendiren 10 çalışmanın metaanalizinde, kupa tedavisinin ağrı yoğunluğu skorunu istatistiksel olarak anlamlı (p<0,01) şekilde düşürdüğü bulunmuştur. 79 OSTEOARTRİT Diz osteoartritinde kuru kupa tedavisinin etkililiğini araştıran 3 randomize kontrollü çalışmanın (271 hasta) metaanalizinde, farmakoterapi (selekoksib veya parasetamol) ve kuru kupa tedavisinin kombinasyonu ile sadece farmakoterapi karşılaştırıldığında, farmakoterapi ve kuru kupa tedavisinin kombinasyonunun ağrı, sertlik ve fiziksel fonksiyonlarda anlamlı (p<0,01) iyileşme sağladığı ileri sürülmüştür. 80 Diz osteoartritinde kupa tedavisi ile oral asetaminofenin etkililiğini araştıran bir randomize kontrollü klinik çalışmada, hastaların bir bölümüne 0-6. gün, 9-11. gün ve 14. gün olmak üzere toplam 11 seans kupa tedavisi uygulanırken; diğerlerine günde 3 kere 650 mg oral asetaminofen verilmiştir.…”