Combining Static and Dynamic Myofascial Dry Cupping Therapy to Improve Local and Regional Symptoms in Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Case Series

Authors

Brent Harper, Chapman UniversityFollow
Alana Dudek, South College
Julianne Williamson, South College
Alex Siyufy, South College
Jo Armour Smith, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2024

Abstract

Introduction

Chronic low back pain is a common musculoskeletal healthcare presentation with an expense of over $100 billion annually. The clinical effect of myofascial cupping on pain and function is not clear, especially when different cupping techniques are combined. The purpose of this case series was to explore changes in pain and function following local static and distal dynamic myofascial dry cupping treatments in patients with chronic low back pain.

Case Descriptions

Three adults from the general population received three ten-minute treatment sessions, 48 hours between each session, of static dry cupping to the low back followed by dynamic myofascial cupping of the quadriceps and hamstring musculature. Outcome measures were taken at two different time points within one-week per participant. Subjective measures included the numeric pain rating scale and the Oswestry Disability Index, objective measures included passive straight leg raise measurements, and pressure pain threshold.

Results and Discussion

Local static combined with distal dynamic myofascial cupping reduced pain, pain sensitivity and perceived disability, and improved hamstring muscle extensibility in all three participants. These encouraging results support the initiation of a larger controlled trial aimed at investigating the efficacy of combined dry cupping interventions to treat musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain.

Level of Evidence

4 (case series)

Comments

This article was originally published in International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, volume 19, issue 2, in 2024. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.91653

Recommended Citation

Harper B, Dudek A, Williamson J, Siyufy A, Smith JA. Combining Static and Dynamic Myofascial Dry Cupping Therapy to Improve Local and Regional Symptoms in Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Case Series. IJSPT. 2024;19(2):227-237. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.91653

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

The authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License