Open AccessTHERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF CUPPING ON NON-SPECIFIC NECK AND LOW BACK PAIN - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Author(s) -
Danish Rasool
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pakistan journal of rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2311-3863
pISSN - 2309-7833
DOI - 10.36283/pjr.zu.9.1/009
Subject(s) - cupping therapy , medicine , massage , neck pain , low back pain , physical therapy , randomized controlled trial , back pain , alternative medicine , surgery , acupuncture , pathology
BACKGROUND & AIMSNeck and low back pain are the major musculoskeletal problems effecting people around the globe. Increasing number of researches underpin the effects of cupping in neck and low back pain. However, empirical studies are required to confirm the efficiency of cupping therapy. Therefore, the aim of this review was to examine the efficacy of cupping treatment in non-specific neck and low back pain.STUDY SELECTION & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIAThis systematic review included Randomized Controlled Trials focused on cupping therapy and its effects on neck and low back pain. Extensive search was performed on Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE and Pedro databases. Studies published from 2009 to 2017 were included.RESULTSEight RCT’s with a 659 sample size were selected for review. Compared to other cupping methods ‘wet cupping’, ‘fire cupping’ and ‘cupping massage’ were superior in reducing pain in neck and low back pain P<0.001. However, a few cupping techniques showed relatively less significant P<0.133, P<0.05, and P<0.037 in comparison to previously mentioned methods.CONCLUSIONCupping therapy can be beneficial in alleviation of non-specific cervicalgia and lumbago in short-term. However, due to weak evidence and a small sample size, the study was restricted from drawing a definite conclusion. Future high-level evidence and research work is required for confirmative and conclusive recommendation of cupping in clinical settings for musculoskeletal pain.