Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis accompanied by varying degrees of disability and reduced quality of life. Several management regimens are available to treat knee osteoarthritis. Cupping therapy is used to treat musculoskeletal disorders but its effects on knee osteoarthri...

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Main Authors: Sara Abolahrari-Shirazi, Farahnaz Ghafari Nezhad, Ziba Ahmadpour, Leila Zare, Farahnaz Emami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2018-12-01
Series:Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jrsr.sums.ac.ir/article_44678_5bbc2afd191c8d539d519a07774ff7ce.pdf
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author Sara Abolahrari-Shirazi
Farahnaz Ghafari Nezhad
Ziba Ahmadpour
Leila Zare
Farahnaz Emami
author_facet Sara Abolahrari-Shirazi
Farahnaz Ghafari Nezhad
Ziba Ahmadpour
Leila Zare
Farahnaz Emami
author_sort Sara Abolahrari-Shirazi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis accompanied by varying degrees of disability and reduced quality of life. Several management regimens are available to treat knee osteoarthritis. Cupping therapy is used to treat musculoskeletal disorders but its effects on knee osteoarthritis has remained unclear. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of intermittent cupping therapy plus routine physical therapy with routine physical therapy alone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Twenty-six patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned into two groups: intermittent cupping therapy plus routine physical therapy (intervention group, n=13) and routine physical therapy alone (control group, n=13). In the routine physical therapy group, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hot pack, and ultrasound were used, while in the cupping therapy group, intermittent vacuum therapy was used together with routine physical therapy. Both groups received 10 treatment sessions over a period of 2 weeks. Pain intensity was measured via visual analog scale (VAS). Further, functional disability was assessed using the Persian version of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index questionnaire. Finally, knee joint passive range of motion (ROM) was measured with photography preand post-intervention. Results: At follow-up, both groups had significantly lower pain intensity and functional disability, and higher knee passive ROM compared to their respective pre-intervention values (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between groups in pain intensity or passive ROM in the knee (P>0.05). Differences in total WOMAC scores between pre- and post-intervention were significantly greater in the control group than in the intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results, both interventions can be effective in relieving symptoms in patients with knee OA.
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spelling doaj.art-30ef8543b9134521b9a157e9cd99ce792022-12-22T01:56:16ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research2345-61592345-61592018-12-0105049398Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled TrialSara Abolahrari-Shirazi0Farahnaz Ghafari Nezhad1Ziba Ahmadpour2Leila Zare3Farahnaz Emami4Rehabilitation Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranRehabilitation Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranRehabilitation Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranRehabilitation Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranRehabilitation Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranBackground: Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis accompanied by varying degrees of disability and reduced quality of life. Several management regimens are available to treat knee osteoarthritis. Cupping therapy is used to treat musculoskeletal disorders but its effects on knee osteoarthritis has remained unclear. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of intermittent cupping therapy plus routine physical therapy with routine physical therapy alone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Twenty-six patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned into two groups: intermittent cupping therapy plus routine physical therapy (intervention group, n=13) and routine physical therapy alone (control group, n=13). In the routine physical therapy group, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hot pack, and ultrasound were used, while in the cupping therapy group, intermittent vacuum therapy was used together with routine physical therapy. Both groups received 10 treatment sessions over a period of 2 weeks. Pain intensity was measured via visual analog scale (VAS). Further, functional disability was assessed using the Persian version of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index questionnaire. Finally, knee joint passive range of motion (ROM) was measured with photography preand post-intervention. Results: At follow-up, both groups had significantly lower pain intensity and functional disability, and higher knee passive ROM compared to their respective pre-intervention values (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between groups in pain intensity or passive ROM in the knee (P>0.05). Differences in total WOMAC scores between pre- and post-intervention were significantly greater in the control group than in the intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results, both interventions can be effective in relieving symptoms in patients with knee OA.http://jrsr.sums.ac.ir/article_44678_5bbc2afd191c8d539d519a07774ff7ce.pdfOsteoarthritisCupping therapyPainDisability
spellingShingle Sara Abolahrari-Shirazi
Farahnaz Ghafari Nezhad
Ziba Ahmadpour
Leila Zare
Farahnaz Emami
Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research
Osteoarthritis
Cupping therapy
Pain
Disability
title Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Is Cupping Therapy in Combination with Routine Physical Therapy Effective in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort is cupping therapy in combination with routine physical therapy effective in the management of knee osteoarthritis a randomized controlled trial
topic Osteoarthritis
Cupping therapy
Pain
Disability
url http://jrsr.sums.ac.ir/article_44678_5bbc2afd191c8d539d519a07774ff7ce.pdf
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