Mode of action of cupping—Local metabolism and pain thresholds in neck pain patients and healthy subjects

Emerich, M.; Braeunig, Matthias; Lüdtke, Rainer; Huber, Roman

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2013.12.013

Cited by 62 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Since increased pressure pain sensitivity has been reported in chronic neck pain patients [26,27] it might be reasonable to assume that the intervention may have influenced the pain perception at that spot. Potential modes of action of the cupping massage may include increases in local microcirculation, thus decreasing the hypersensitivity due to muscle spasm-related ischemia in the neck muscles [12,28]. Other hypotheses include effects on the peripheral nociceptor or at the spinal cord [29,30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial

et al. 2017

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Background: Chronic neck pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence for the effectiveness of complementary therapies. This study aimed to test the efficacy of cupping massage in patients with neck pain. Patients and Methods: Patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomly assigned to cupping massage or a wait list control. The intervention group received 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis while the control patients continued their usual treatments. The primary outcome measure was neck pain intensity (0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)) after 3 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain on movement, functional disability, health-related quality of life, mechanical detection and pain thresholds and adverse events. Results: 50 patients (52.6 ± 10.3 years, 92% female) were randomised to either cupping massage or a wait list (N = 25 each). Patients in the cupping group reported significantly less neck pain post intervention (difference per protocol -14.3 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) -27.7 to -1.0, p = 0.037; difference intention-to-treat -10.8 mm, 95% CI -21.5 to -0.1, p = 0.047). Significant group differences in favour of the intervention were further found for pain on movement (p = 0.019) and functional disability (p < 0.001), the quality-of-life subscales pain (p = 0.002) and mental health (p = 0.003) and the mental component summary (p = 0.036). Changes were also found for pressure pain sensitivity at the site of maximal pain (p = 0.022). Five adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Cupping massage appears to be effective in reducing pain and increasing function and quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm and extend these results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial

et al. 2017

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“…A total of 27 studies were excluded, as they did not have sufficient data for inclusion. Of these, 10 randomized trials were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis (23,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). The search strategy and method of study selection is defined in Figure 1.…”

Section: Studies Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of patients were females with chronic nonspecific neck pain. Interventions included dry cupping (27,28,30,33,34), traditional cupping (26), massage cupping (29), and pulsating cupping (32). Two trials employed both dry and wet cupping in the intervention group (23,31).…”

Section: Study Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, a micro dialysis system was implanted subcutaneously above the trapezius muscle and lactate, pyruvate, glucose, glycerin, as well as pain thresholds were measured with algometry before and after cupping. This study reported that cupping creates lasting anaerobe metabolism in the subcutaneous tissue and also in some pain areas increases pressure pain thresholds (27). The strength of trials and evidence of study is presented in Figure 2 based on the Cochrane Collaboration's tool.…”

Section: Study Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Cupping Therapy on Non-specific Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Azizkhani

Ghorat

Soroushzadeh

et al. 2017

Iran Red Crescent Med J

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Context: Neck pain is a very common symptom. Several clinical trial studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of cupping therapy on neck pain. The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of cupping therapy as an intervention to conservative management of neck pain.Evidence Acquisition: We performed a systematic search in PubMed, Ovid, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, web of science, and Iranian medical databases through March 2017 without time restrictions. All clinical trials done on non-specific neck pain, where at least one of the therapies assessed pertains to cupping therapy, were included the study. Outcomes were pain intensity (e.g., Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), disability (e.g., Neck Disability Index, NDI), quality of life on sp36 questionnaire, and other outcomes due to neck pain. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of cupping in managing neck pain.Results: Meta-analysis of 5 trials revealed significant differences in pain relief in favor of cupping therapy compared with the control group (VAS 100 cm, MD, -0.84 (-1.22, -0.46), I 2 = 54.7%). Furthermore, meta-analysis of 6 studies revealed that cupping therapy was clinically superior to the control group in patients with neck pain (SMD = -0.60 (-0.86, -0.35), I 2 = 16.4%). Assessment of quality of life using the SP36 questionnaire showed that cupping therapy increased the quality of life in patients with neck pain compared with the control group (SMD = -0.56 (-0.20, -0.92), I 2 = 51.4%). Conclusions:This study provides some evidence that cupping therapy may improve treatment of patients with neck pain.

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“…All in all, we need larger multi-center studies on the efficacy of cupping and proof of its good tolerability. Research on a possible mechanism of action must also be intensified, because the research results yielded so far; e.g., the changes in the local tissue metabolism, do not explain the therapeutic effect in toto [27]. …”

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confidence: 99%

The Crisis of Medicine and the Benefits of Complex Pain Therapy Procedures Such As Cupping: More Research Needed

Brinkhaus

Dobos

2019

Complement Med Res

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Mode of action of cupping—Local metabolism and pain thresholds in neck pain patients and healthy subjects

Cited by 62 publications

References 42 publications

The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial

The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial

The Effect of Cupping Therapy on Non-specific Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The Crisis of Medicine and the Benefits of Complex Pain Therapy Procedures Such As Cupping: More Research Needed

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