Effect of Silicone Cupping Therapy Combined with Throwing on Muscular Tenderness in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers

Abstract

Cupping therapy is an ancient therapeutic modality that uses suction to create a decompression effect on the targeted tissue. This negative pressure causes potential therapeutic effects including decreased musculoskeletal pain, increased regional, and localized blood flow. While there is not a consensus on the prescription and application of cupping therapy, the modality continues to grow in popularity in the sports medicine setting. One method of cupping therapy involves the use of flexible silicone cups. These cups allow patients to move the body part receiving treatment and perform therapeutic exercise. To date, there has not appeared to be any studies that examined the efficacy of using silicone cups with therapeutic exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this retrospective pilot study was to assess the effects of light throwing with silicone cups applied on muscular tenderness in collegiate baseball pitchers. Review of medical records found that 18 male baseball pitchers (age 21±1 year; height 197.36±4.57cm; weight 90.72±6.65kg) had undergone evaluation and treatment that yielded includable data. Pitchers underwent the prescribed treatment if they threw 30 or more pitches in a game or competitive practice the previous day. The treatment site was prepared using coconut oil to allow the silicone cups to adhere better to the pitcher's skin. Silicone cups were then applied to the rhomboids, upper trapezius, supraspinatus, posterior humeral head, latissimus dorsi, and bicipital groove. Pitchers were then instructed to throw a baseball with as little intent as possible for five minutes. Upon completion of throwing, the cups were left in place for an additional fifteen minutes, at which point the cups were removed. Paired samples t-tests were run to assess differences before and after treatment in muscular tenderness. Muscular tenderness significantly decreased at all treatment sites following treatment (p<.001). These findings suggest that the combination of silicone cupping therapy and light throwing has the potential to decrease muscular soreness 24 hours after pitching. Future research should attempt to gather data on larger sample sizes and attempt to determine the mechanisms by which cupping therapy decreases muscular tenderness and soreness.