S Andrew C*, Brandon W, Diana G and Kristen S
University of Texas at Tyler, USA
Grand Canyon University, USA
Christus Trinity Mother Frances, USA
*Corresponding author: S Andrew C, University of Texas at Tyler, Texas, USA
Submission: November 27, 2019;Published: January 09, 2020
ISSN 2578-0271 Volume6 Issue1
Cupping therapy is a therapeutic modality that has been suggested to improve blood flow, decrease pain, and increase function. Due to the scarcity of the literature in regard to best practices, parameters for prescribing and applying cupping therapy is absent in competitive athletic population. To ensure appropriate usage of cupping therapy, gaps in the literature on range of motion, strength, proprioception, power, speed and agility must be investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a single cupping therapy treatment to the gastrocnemius on Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (YBT) scores in collegiate baseball players. Ten male (age 21.6 ± 1.90) collegiate baseball players participated in this study. Participants completed three attempts in the anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directions for both lower extremities per YBT procedures. Following baseline measurements, four plastic cups were applied to the gastrocnemius of the non-dominant lower extremity for 15-minutes. After treatment, follow up YBT scores were taken. Upon completion of data collection paired samples t-tests and oneway repeated measures ANOVAs were performed to determine significant differences in scores following cupping therapy. Significant improvements were found pre- and post-treatment in all three directions in the lower extremity receiving cupping therapy (p < 0.05). When compared with the control extremity, significant differences were found in the anterior and posteromedial directions (p < 0.05). These results suggest that a single cupping therapy treatment to the gastrocnemius may improve anterior and posteromedial YBT scores in collegiate baseball players. Further studies are required to determine the effects of multiple cupping therapy treatments, as well as long term effects of cupping therapy on dynamic stability.
Cupping therapy is an ancient therapeutic modality that used as early as 3300BC [1].
Previous studies have suggested that cupping therapy is an effective modality for reducing
pain, increasing blood flow, increasing function, and increasing range of motion [2-4]. This
increased range of motion has been attributed in theory to the increase in circulation that
has been found with cupping therapy [5]. As high-level athletes in the United States use and
promote cupping therapy, this treatment technique has grown in popularity. Even though
cupping therapy has gained attention, there is still no consensus on the ideal parameters for
applying cupping therapy to either professional or amateur athletes [1]. In the absence of an
evidence driven best practices statement, an expert driven recommendation statement was
created to serve as a resource for athletic trainers wishing to use cupping therapy in their
clinical practice [6]. Although this clinical expert’s statement was created, the authors did
note that it was not intended to serve as an exhaustive document, but rather a resource to
use while further research is conducted [6]. Despite research indicating that cupping therapy
improves pain levels, blood flow, range of motion, and function, to the authors’ knowledge
there have not been any studies conducted on the effects of cupping therapy on lower
extremity balance and strength.
The Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (YBT) is a measure of lower extremity strength,
neuromuscular control, and balance [7]. There have been some studies that suggest that
lower scores on the YBT may be correlated with an increased risk of injury [8,9]. In previous
studies, the YBT has been shown to be a valid method of assessing lower extremity strength, neuromuscular control, and balance in baseball pitchers [7,10].
The YBT-anterior reach has also been suggested as a useful tool
to help identified decreased stride length in baseball pitchers [7].
This decreased stride length has been associated with increased
stress to the shoulder and elbow and pitching mechanics defects
[7]. This combination of factors may lead to an increased risk of
upper extremity injury [7]. Being able to improve the performance
characteristics assessed by the YBT, may help decrease the risk
of musculoskeletal injury [7,10]. Thus, the aim of this study is
to determine the effects of a single 15-minute cupping therapy
treatment to the calf musculature on YBT scores in collegiate
baseball players.
Ten male (age 21.6 ± 1.90 years; height 175.61 ± 21.41cm; weight 80.33 ± 8.07kg) collegiate baseball players participated in this study. All subjects were members of an NCAA Division II baseball team. All subjects were screened for a history of significant lower extremity injury, which was defined as a lower extremity injury that resulted in any lost time from practice or competition. Subjects were educated on the risks and benefits of the study and provided informed consent prior to the beginning of data collection.
In this study, YBT scores were taken in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions for both legs. Subjects completed three trials in each direction for both legs. Per YBT protocol, the highest score in each direction was used for data analysis [7]. Following completion of baseline testing, the subjects were then placed in a prone position. The left gastrocnemius muscle was prepared for treatment with coconut oil, and then four plastic pneumatic cups were then applied for 15 minutes. During this time, the right gastrocnemius received no treatment in order to serve as a control. Upon completion of cupping therapy treatment, the cups were removed, and the skin was cleaned with a terry cloth towel. Then, the subjects performed a second YBT protocol for both legs. At this time, the subjects were dismissed once they confirmed that they had no further questions and had not suffered any adverse responses to cupping therapy treatment.
After data collection was completed, data was compiled and analyzed for statistical significance. Paired samples t-tests were run for all three directions to assess the difference pre- and postintervention. Between group measures using one-way repeated ANOVAs were performed to assess differences between all three directions of the YBT post cupping therapy. All statistical tests were performed using SPSS V26 (IBM, Armonk, NY).
Means and standard deviations for YBT scores is presented in Table 1. In all three directions, reach distance increased at a significant rate (Anterior = 65.45 ± 4.44 to 70.15 ± 5.85, Posteromedial = 105.70 ± 4.92 to 110.45 ±5.35, Posterolateral = 110.25 ± 7.46 to 114.6 ± 6.38, p < 0.05). In addition to significant improvements when comparing pre- and post-intervention reach scores, subjects experienced significantly increased reach scores in the anterior and posteromedial directions when compared to their control leg (Anterior Treatment = 4.5 ± 3.89, Anterior Control = -1.15 ± 4.57, Posteromedial Treatment = 4.75 ± 3.65, Posteromedial Control = 0.00 ± 3.86, p < 0.05) (Table 2).
Table 1: Mean ± SD scores for Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test scores for treated limb in cm.
*Reach was significantly different that previous condition.
Table 2: Mean ± SD score differences for treatment and control limbs in cm.
*Reach was significantly different from compare condition.
The purpose of this study was to determine if a single dry cupping therapy treatment would have an influence on YBT scores. Lower composite scores on the YBT have been correlated with increased risk of injury [7]. While these studies cannot definitively conclude that an increased score on the YBT would decrease the risk of injury, improvements would address a potential risk factor. Results from the current study suggest that a 15-minute cupping therapy treatment to the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius result in significant improvements on the YBT in the anterior and posteromedial directions when compared to a control group. This increase in YBT scores may be indicative of an acute increase in balance and neuromuscular control. The authors theorized these increases may be the result of a decrease in muscle stiffness and increase in muscle flexibility.
The specific mechanisms for cupping therapy decreasing
muscle stiffness are not well understood. It has been suggested that
decreases in pain and increases in myofascial space may activate
neuromodulatory effects, such as the “gate control theory”, resulting
in an overall decreased muscle stiffness [4]. Another theory is that
the increase in blood flow caused by cupping therapy plays a role in
increasing muscle flexibility [5]. However, there do not appear to be
many published studies examining the effects cupping therapy may
have on muscle stiffness and range of motion.
A possible limitation of this study was the relatively small
sample size. A follow-up study involving a large subject population
may allow for a more conclusive statement to be made on the effects
of cupping therapy on YBT scores in baseball players. Another
potential limitation was that the authors were unable to determine
whether the increased scores were due to improvements in lower
extremity balance, strength, range of motion, or neuromuscular
control. Further research should be done using validated patient
and clinician-based outcomes measures to better determine the
effects of cupping therapy has on muscular performance.
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study conducted to
assess the effects of cupping therapy on lower extremity balance,
strength, range of motion, or neuromuscular control in an athletic
population. Future research should look further into the effects
of cupping therapy on other measures of muscular performance.
Provided these studies use similar methodology, a more conclusive
systematic review may be able to be performed on the use of
cupping therapy with athletic populations.
© 2020 S Andrew C. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.