Myofascial Cupping in the Tech Age!

Orthopedics and Rheumatology Open Access Journal ISSN: 2471-6804

Not Just Folk Medicine: Myofascial Cupping in the Tech Age!

*Theresa A Schmidt Physical Therapist, Northport, USA Submission: September 11, 2017; Published: September 12, 2017 *Corresponding author: Theresa A Schmidt, Physical Therapist, Northport, New York, USA, Email:

Mini Review rigorous studies since the ones reviewed showed either You saw it on the Olympian swimmers in the 2016 Games, on Michael Phelps, on the backs of actresses sashaying down the of trials. For the trials meeting established criteria for inclusion red carpet, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Simpson, Victoria inadequate methodological quality or an insufficient number the systematic review, they found that cupping therapy was Beckham, Jennifer Aniston, and David Arquette. Serena Williams, superior to interventions including medications for conditions Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian also joined the “new” trend such as low back pain and cervical spondylosis, facial paralysis, in experiencing this ancient modality. Those blotchy red or acne and herpes zoster. In a single blind RCT in 60 subjects purple marks and perfect circles are the tell-tale of the cupping with chronic neck and shoulder pain, Chi et al. [4] reported a procedures familiar to practitioners of Asian and traditional bodywork and folk medicine, used for centuries. History surface temperature after a single treatment of10 minutes of indicates cupping was used centuries ago in ancient Asia, China, significant reduction in neck pain intensity and elevation in skin (Ge Hong) Egypt, (Ebers Papyrus), and Greece (Hippocrates). GB21, LI15, in upper trapezius and deltoid). The original cups were hollowed horns or bones of animals static fire cupping bilaterally to three acupuncture points (SI15, and bamboo plants, used to suck out toxins from snakebites low back pain, range of motion, and leg raise in 21 subjects and insect venom. Over the years, practitioners of Traditional Markowski et al. [5] reported significant improvement in given cupping with four pressurized cups over the low back. These are just a sample of the studies available on cupping acupuncture or even bloodletting (wet cupping) for a variety of Chinese Medicine have used glass fire-cups combined with therapy. Rozenfeld & Kalichman [6] provided a summary of cupping methods and literature review, in which they the ones we use today, composed of glass, plastic, rubber, or clinical conditions. Over time the cups were refined to produce discussed the physiological effect of cupping, including silicone. Western clinicians are now using cupping as a manual increased circulation, immune system activation, lymphatic therapy or soft tissue release tool, such as foam rollers, massage balls, and stretch bands. The procedure is known as dry cupping. reduction in nociceptive input and gating of pain [7-13]. Several Let’s take a look at some of the recent evidence-based literature flow enhancement, mechanoreceptor stimulation with resultant regarding the effects of dry cupping. musculoskeletal conditions [14-18]. More research is advised studies demonstrated the efficacy of cupping for a variety of In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 70 soccer players, to determine the mechanisms involved in the physiological Fousekis et al. [1] compared the results of three interventions response to cupping, and to compare the effects of cupping to on myofascial trigger point pain in the low back: instrument- other standard interventions used to manage musculoskeletal assisted soft tissue mobilization, static dry cupping and ischemic dysfunction [19-22]. pressure, applied once weekly for 3 weeks. All interventions References thresholds, although the former showed the most improvement. 1. Konstantinos Fousekis, Eleni Kounavi, Symeon Doriadis, Konstantinos demonstrated a significant improvement in pressure pain Fousekis [1]. In a RCT of 50 patients with chronic neck pain, Saha Mylonas, Elias Kallistratos, et al. (2016) The Effectiveness of Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique (Ergon et al. [2] showed improved function, mental health, quality of (C) Technique), Cupping and Ischaemic Pressure Techniques in the Treatment of Amateur Athletes’ Myofascial Trigger Points. Journal of cupping over two weeks. Novel Physiotherapies S3: 009. life and decreased pain after five 10-minute sessions of gliding 2. Saha FJ, Schumann S, Cramer H, Hohmann C, Choi K, et al. (2017) The Cao et al. [3] published a systematic review of clinical evidence Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A for cupping therapy in 2015. They reported a need for additional Randomized Controlled Trial. Complement Med Res 24(1): 26-32.

Ortho & Rheum Open Access J 8(4): OROAJ.MS.ID.555741 (2017) 001 Orthopedics and Rheumatology Open Access Journal

3. Cao H, Han M, Zhu X, Liu J (2015) An overview of systematic reviews 13. Gok, S Kazanci, FH Erdamar, H Gokgoz, N Hartiningsih, S Dane (2016) of clinical evidence for cupping therapy. Journal of Traditional Chinese Is it possible to remove heavy metals from the body for wet cupping Medical Sciences 2(1): 3-10. therapy (Al-hijamah?) Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 15(4): 700-704. 4. Chi LM, Lin LM, Chen CL, Wang SF, Lai HL (2016) The Effectiveness of Cupping Therapy on Relieving Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain: A 14. Koh KS, Park SW, Oh TS, Choi JW (2016) Flap preconditioning by Randomized Controlled Trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and pressure-controlled cupping in a rat model. J Surg Res 204(2): 319- Alternative Medicine 2016: 7358918. 325. 5. Markowski A, Sanford S, Pikowski J, Fauvell D, Cimino D (2013) A 15. Kurniawan D, Darsini, Udaya M (2013) Effect of Changes Cupping Pilot Study Analyzing the Effects of Chinese Cupping as an Adjunct Therapy In The Elderly With Joint Pain Rheumatoid Arthritis (Study Treatment for Patients with Subacute Low Back Pain on Relieving In UptPsluJombang). Nursing Journal of StikesInsan Cendekia Medika Pain, Improving Range of Motion, and Improving Function. J Altern Jombang 5(1): 13-18. Complement Med 20(2): 113-117. 16. Lauche R, Spitzer J, Schwahn B, Ostermann T, Bernardy K, et al. 6. Rozenfeld E, Kalichman L (2016) New is well-forgotten old: The use of dry cupping in musculoskeletal medicine. J Bodyw Mov Ther 20(1): 173-178. 37316.(2016) Efficacy of cupping therapy in patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome-a randomized placebo controlled trial. Scientific Reports 6: 7. Ahmed A (2015) Innovative Energy Standard of Curative Cupping/ 17. Li T, Li Kai (2016) A noninvasive device for simultaneous monitoring Hijama. Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences 11: 445-453. arterial and venous blood oxygenation and its test in vacuum-based cupping therapy. 2016 IEEE International Nanoelectronics Conference 8. Akbarzade M, Ghaemmaghami M, Yazdanpanahi Z, Zare N, (INEC) Chengdu, China, pp. 1-2. Mohagheghzadeh A, et al. (2016) Comparison of the Effect of Dry Cupping Therapy and Acupressure at BL23 Point on Intensity of 18. Pan L, Ma X-hong, Han S, Hui HU (2016) Comparative Study on the Postpartum Perineal Pain Based on the Short Form of McGill Pain Questionnaire. J Reprod Infertil 17(1): 39-46. for Chronic Low Back Pain. Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and MoxibustionTherapeutic 35(9): Efficacy 1112-1114. between Medicinal Cupping and Bloodletting 9. Al Bedah Abdullah MN, Khalil Mohamed KM, Posadzki Paul, 19. Roostayi M, Norouzali T, Manshadi F, Abbasi M, Baghban A (2016) of Cupping Therapy: A Tool for Modernization and Standardization. The Effects of Cupping Therapy on Skin’s Biomechanical Properties in TheSohaibaniImen, Journal of Alternative Aboushanab and Tamer Complementary Shaaban, et al.Medicine. (2016) Classification 22(10): 768- Wistar Rats. Chinese Medicine 7: 25-30. 777. 20. Tarek S (2016) Effects of Cupping Therapy Based on Stabilization Core 10. Cobian D (2016) Cupping: Why We’re All Seeing Spots. American Exercises On Low Back Pain For Soccer Players In State Of United Arab Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Emirates. Science, Movement and Health 16(2): 684-690. 11. Dons’koia BV, Chernyshov VP, Osypchuk DV, Baksheev SM (2016) 21. Cupping manipulation temporary decreases natural killer lymphocyte elevation of blood oxygen induced by Chinese cupping therapy as frequency, activity and cytotoxicity. J Integr Med 14(3): 197-202. assessedTing Li, Yaoxianby near-infrared Li, Yu Lin, spectroscopy,” Kai Li (2017) Biomed Significant Opt andExpress sustaining 8(1): 223-229. 12. Farhadi K, Choubsaz M, Setayeshi K, Kameli M, Bazargan-Hejazi S, et al. (2016) The effectiveness of dry-cupping in preventing post-operative 22. Wang B, Liu X, Hu Z, Sun A, Ma Y, et al. (2016) YANG’s pricking-cupping nausea and vomiting by P6 acupoint stimulation: A randomized therapy for knee osteoarthritis: a multi-center randomized controlled controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 95(38): e4770. trial. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 36(2): 113-118.

This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License Your next submission with Juniper Publishers DOI: 10.19080/OROAJ.2017.08.555741 will reach you the below assets • Quality Editorial service • Swift Peer Review • Reprints availability • E-prints Service • Manuscript Podcast for convenient understanding • Global attainment for your research • Manuscript accessibility in different formats ( Pdf, E-pub, Full Text, Audio) • Unceasing customer service

Track the below URL for one-step submission https://juniperpublishers.com/online-submission.php

How to cite this article: Theresa A S. Not Just Folk Medicine: Myofascial Cupping in the Tech Age!. Ortho & Rheum Open Access 2017; 8(4): 555741. 002 DOI: 10.19080/OROAJ.2017.08.555741.