Effect of Cupping Therapy on Range of Motion, Pain Threshold, and Muscle Activity of the Hamstring Muscle Compared to Passive Stretching

Kim Jaeeun (김재은); Cho Ji Eun (조지은); 도광선; Seungyeop Lim (임승엽); Heejoong Kim (김희중); Yim, Jongeun (임종은)

Effect of Cupping Therapy on Range of Motion, Pain Threshold, and Muscle Activity of the Hamstring Muscle Compared to Passive Stretching

Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
Abbr : J Korean Soc Phys Med
2017, 12(3), pp.23-32
Publisher : The Korean Society of Physical Medicine
Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Physical Therapy > Other physical therapy

Kim Jaeeun ¹, Cho Ji Eun ¹, 도광선 ¹, Seungyeop Lim ¹, Heejoong Kim ¹, Yim, Jongeun ¹

¹삼육대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Flexibility and range of motion are very important factors in sports performance, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of cupping therapy on flexibility, muscle activity, and pain threshold of hamstring muscle compared to passive stretching in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned in a crossover design to cupping therapy and passive stretching. Subjects were tested to compare their effects according to the intervention such as Passive range of motion (PROM) (straight leg raising) and active range of motion (AROM). And algometer (pain) testing and MVC assessment using EMG were performed as dependent variables. RESULTS: The cupping therapy group and passive stretching group showed significant differences in all variables including PROM (p=.00, p=.00), AROM (p=.00, p=.03), Pain Threshold (p=.03, p=.08), Semitendinosus MVC (p=.01, p=.00), and Biceps femoris MVC (p=.01, p=.16). There were no significant differences between the two groups in all variables. CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggested that cupping therapy has as much positive effect on flexibility, pain threshold, and muscle contraction as passive stretching. Also, it is more convenient and easier to work on patients than passive stretching. Therefore, cupping therapy should be considered as another option to treat range of motion, pain, and muscle activity in the clinical field.

KEYWORDS

Cupping therapy, Hamstring muscle, Pain, Passive stretching, Range of motion

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

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