Cupping Therapy as an Alternative Pain management Treatment for Chronic Pain (continued )

References

Abdulah, D. M., Mohammad Sadiq, H. A., & Mohammed, A. H. (2021). Effectiveness of wet cupping therapy on relieving pain in patients with chronic migraine: An observational study. Journal of Complementary & Integrative Medicine, 18(3), 569–577. https://doi-org.ezproxy.cul. columbia.edu/10.1515/jcim-2020-0183

Azizkhani, M., Ghorat, F., Sayed Mohammad, A. S., Karimi, M., & Yekaninejad, S. (2017). The effect of cupping therapy on non-specific neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 20(6). https://doi-org./10.5812/ircmj.55039

Li, J. Q., Guo, W., Sun, Z. G., Huang, Q. S., Lee, E. Y., Wang, Y., & Yao, X. D. (2017). Cupping therapy for treating knee osteoarthritis: The evidence from systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 28, 152–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. ctcp.2017.06.003

Ma, S. Y., Wang, Y., Xu, J. Q., & Zheng, L. (2018). Cupping therapy for treating ankylosing spondylitis: The evidence from systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 32, 187–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.07.001

Moura, C. C., Chaves, É., Cardoso, A., Nogueira, D. A., Corrêa, H. P., & Chianca, T. (2018). Cupping therapy and chronic back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 26, 3094. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2888.3094

Saeidi, M., Yavari, H., & Fateh, H. (2021). The comparative effects of cupping massage and exercise training in patients with trapezius myofascial syndrome on pain, disability, and fatigue: A randomized controlled trial. Muscle Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 11(04), 712–718. https://doi.org/10.32098/mltj.04.2021.14

Seo, J., Chu, H., Kim, C. H., Sung, K. K., & Lee, S. (2021). Cupping therapy for migraine: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized Controlled trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM, 2021, 7582581. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7582581

Volpato, M. P., Breda, I. C., de Carvalho, R. C., de Castro Moura, C., Ferreira, L. L., Silva, M. L., & Silva, J. R. (2020). Single cupping therapy session improves pain, sleep, and disability in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 13(2), 48–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2019.11.004

Wood, S., Fryer, G., Tan, L., & Cleary, C. (2020). Dry cupping for musculoskeletal pain and range of motion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 24(4), 503–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.024

Table 1

Cupping Therapy Study Results

Author/year Study type

Abdulah et al., 2021 Retrospective observational (CEBM 4)

Azizkhani et al., 2017 Systematic review & meta-analysis (CEBM 1)

Li et al., 2017 Systematic review & meta-analysis (CEBM 1)

Primary options

Changes in headache severity

Change in pain intensity, visual analog scale (VAS) & numerical rating scale (NRS)

Change in clinical efficacy measurement, pain (VAS), and physical function

Companion groups Methods Results

Ma et al., 2018 Systematic review & meta-analysis (CEBM 1)

Changes in physical function and pain (VAS)

N/A

Cupping therapy with Western medicine vs. Western medicine only

Cupping therapy with Western medicine vs. Western medicine only

Cupping therapy with Western medicine vs. Western medicine only

Data extraction and analysis Significant improvement of headache with wet cupping

Data extraction and analysis Significant pain relief with cupping therapy

Data extraction and analysis Non-statistically significant pain relief in cupping therapy combined with Western medicine compared to Western medicine alone

Data extraction and analysis Significantly greater improvement in physical function and pain in cupping therapy combined with Western medicine

Moura et al., 2018 Systematic review & meta-analysis (CEBM 1)

Saeidi et al., 2021 Randomized control trial (CEBM 2)

Seo et al., 2021 Systematic review & meta-analysis (CEBM 1)

Volpato et al., 2020 Randomized control trial (CEBM 2)

Wood et al., 2020 Systematic review & meta-analysis (CEBM 1)

Change in pain intensity, physical incapacity, and quality of life

Change in pain, disability, and fatigue

Changes in headache intensity treatment effectiveness rate (TER)

Change in pain or disability

Change in pain, function, and range motion

Cupping therapy vs. active standard medical treatment of wait list

Cupping therapy vs. conventional massage therapy

Cupping therapy vs. pharmacological therapy

Cupping therapy vs. placebo cupping therapy

Cupping therapy vs. standard medical treatment or no treatment

Data extraction and analysis Cupping therapy more effective in reduction of pain

Randomized 4-week intervention therapy

Cupping therapy effective in reducing pain, disability, and fatigue for myofascial trapezius pain

Data extraction and analysis Non-statistically significant higher TER of wet cupping therapy migraines

Randomized 1-week intervention therapy

Effective reduction in lower back pain and disability with cupping therapy

Data extraction and analysis Effective reduction chronic neck pain and lower back pain with dry cupping

Note: Nine studies showed reduction in pain scores and two studies showed reduction in disability. Five studies analyzed back pain, four studies analyzed headache/neck pain, and one study analyzed knee osteoarthritis pain. Seven studies compared cupping therapy to no therapy or standardized pain therapy, one study compared cupping therapy to placebo cupping therapy, and one study was a retrospective observational study.