Cupping for Stroke Rehabilitation

Overseen By Scott Getsoian

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Scott Getsoian

Must not be taking: Anticoagulants, Baclofen, Botox, others

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Pregnancy, Hypertension, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 months

30 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking certain medications. The trial excludes participants who are currently using Baclofen, Botox, or any anti-spasticity medication.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Dry Static Cupping for stroke rehabilitation?

Some studies suggest that cupping may help with shoulder pain and muscle strength in stroke patients, but the evidence is not strong enough to be conclusive. More research is needed to confirm these potential benefits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is cupping therapy generally safe for humans?

Cupping therapy is generally considered safe, but adverse events can occur if not performed properly, such as skin injuries or burns. It's important for practitioners to follow guidelines and consider individual patient conditions to minimize risks. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How does cupping differ from other treatments for stroke rehabilitation?

Cupping is a unique treatment for stroke rehabilitation that involves creating suction on the skin, which is different from other therapies like acupuncture or medication. It has shown some potential benefits for specific stroke-related issues like shoulder pain and muscle strength, but more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness. ^{1 4 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Physical therapists use dry static cupping for the treatment of many conditions, including spasticity for patients post-stroke. While research better describes the effects of dry static cupping for patients with orthopedic conditions, information is lacking on central conditions, such as stroke and resulting spasticity.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals undergoing rehabilitation after a stroke who experience muscle stiffness, particularly in the upper limbs. It's aimed at helping both adults and children improve their movement.

Inclusion Criteria

I can understand English or Spanish, either by reading or speaking.

I am between 30 and 80 years old.

Attending Ascension Rehabilitation of Joliet for their rehabilitation

Exclusion Criteria

I currently have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

I am currently taking Baclofen.

My diabetes is not under control.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive dry static cupping or placebo cupping along with standard physical therapy treatment

3 months

Monthly visits for assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Dry Static Cupping

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of dry static cupping therapy compared to placebo cupping and standard physical therapy in reducing muscle stiffness and enhancing function in post-stroke patients.

Participant Groups

Group I: Cupping group Active Control 2 Interventions

This group (arm) will receive the dry static cupping intervention, along with the standard physical therapy treatment.

Group II: Placebo cupping group Placebo Group 2 Interventions

This group (arm) will receive a placebo-form of cupping (low, and non-therapeutic pressure amount in the cups), along with the standard physical therapy treatment.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Scott Getsoian

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

30+

Governors State University

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

60+

Findings from Research

This systematic review analyzed 5 studies, including 3 randomized clinical trials, and found some evidence suggesting cupping may be beneficial for specific stroke rehabilitation outcomes, such as hemiplegic shoulder pain and upper-limb strength.

However, the overall evidence is limited and inconclusive, as many studies lacked robust comparisons and methodological rigor, indicating a need for more well-designed trials to better assess cupping's effectiveness in stroke rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cupping for stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review. Lee, MS., Choi, TY., Shin, BC., et al.[2018]

Cupping therapy at a higher negative pressure of -300 mmHg significantly increases skin blood flow more than -225 mmHg, with peak blood flow reaching 16.7 times the baseline compared to 11.1 times for the lower pressure.

Shorter cupping durations of 5 minutes result in greater skin blood flow responses than longer durations of 10 minutes, indicating that both pressure and duration are important factors in optimizing cupping therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Pressures and Durations of Cupping Therapy on Skin Blood Flow Responses. Wang, X., Zhang, X., Elliott, J., et al.[2021]

Cupping therapy shows potential as a non-pharmacological treatment for various pain-related conditions, including chronic pain, knee osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pain, and herpes zoster, based on 14 meta-analyses.

However, the overall quality of evidence is low to moderate, with no high-quality studies confirming its efficacy, indicating that while cupping may be safe and effective, more rigorous research is needed to establish its benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of cupping therapy on pain outcomes: an evidence-mapping study. Wang, L., Cai, Z., Li, X., et al.[2023]

In a study of 60 stroke patients with upper limb spasticity, combining blood-letting and cupping therapy with standard treatment significantly improved spasm scores and motor function compared to standard treatment alone.

The total effective rate for the combined therapy group was 90.0%, compared to 76.7% for the control group, indicating that the addition of these therapies enhances recovery outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Blood-letting and cupping therapy for upper limb spasticity in recovery phase of stroke]. Xi, M., Zhou, G., Luo, M., et al.[2019]

A systematic review of 550 clinical studies on cupping therapy, including 73 randomized controlled trials, suggests that cupping may be beneficial for treating pain conditions, herpes zoster, and respiratory issues, although the overall quality of the trials was generally poor.

No serious adverse effects were reported in the studies, indicating that cupping therapy is relatively safe, but more rigorously designed trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and support its use in clinical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical research evidence of cupping therapy in China: a systematic literature review. Cao, H., Han, M., Li, X., et al.[2022]

Adverse events from cupping therapy are often linked to improper techniques used by practitioners and a lack of consideration for individual patient conditions.

Clinical practitioners are advised to exercise caution, adhere to standard manipulation guidelines, and be aware of contraindications to minimize the risk of adverse events during cupping therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Analysis on the adverse events of cupping therapy in the application]. Zhou, X., Ruan, JW., Xing, BF.[2014]

Wet cupping shows promising efficacy for treating musculoskeletal pain conditions, particularly nonspecific low back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and brachialgia, based on a systematic review of 14 randomized clinical trials.

While 9 of the trials indicated benefits of wet cupping over control interventions, the overall quality of the studies varied, highlighting the need for better-designed trials to confirm these findings and guide healthcare policies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Wet Cupping Therapy: Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. Al Bedah, AM., Khalil, MK., Posadzki, P., et al.[2022]

In a study of 60 stroke patients, pricking combined with cupping therapy showed significantly better improvement in elbow joint activity and spasticity compared to western medication (baclofen) after 4 weeks of treatment.

The comprehensive treatment group had a total effective rate of 83.3%, compared to 60.0% in the western medication group, indicating that the combination of traditional therapies and rehabilitation may be more effective for reducing muscle spasticity and improving motor function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effects of pricking and cupping combined with rehabilitation training on elbow flexion spasticity of upper limb after stroke and its IEMG value]. Huang, Z., Zhao, N., Su, Z., et al.[2018]

In a study involving 20 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, those receiving scalp cluster acupuncture combined with electrical stimulation (SC + ES) showed greater improvements in motor and living abilities compared to those receiving only scalp cluster acupuncture (SC).

After 4 weeks of treatment, the SC + ES group had significantly higher scores on the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale and the modified Barthel Index, indicating enhanced motor function and daily living skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Scalp-cluster acupuncture with electrical stimulation can improve motor and living ability in convalescent patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Wang, X., Zhang, Q., Cui, B., et al.[2020]

Cupping therapy has been evaluated in five systematic reviews for various conditions, but only clear evidence supports its effectiveness in reducing pain.

Despite some indications of benefit for pain relief, the overall effectiveness of cupping remains uncertain, as the studies included in the reviews were limited in number.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is cupping an effective treatment? An overview of systematic reviews. Lee, MS., Kim, JI., Ernst, E.[2022]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cupping for stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review. [2018]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Pressures and Durations of Cupping Therapy on Skin Blood Flow Responses. [2021]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of cupping therapy on pain outcomes: an evidence-mapping study. [2023]

4. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Blood-letting and cupping therapy for upper limb spasticity in recovery phase of stroke]. [2019]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical research evidence of cupping therapy in China: a systematic literature review. [2022]

6. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Analysis on the adverse events of cupping therapy in the application]. [2014]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Wet Cupping Therapy: Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. [2022]

8. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effects of pricking and cupping combined with rehabilitation training on elbow flexion spasticity of upper limb after stroke and its IEMG value]. [2018]

9. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Scalp-cluster acupuncture with electrical stimulation can improve motor and living ability in convalescent patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. [2020]

10. Korea (South) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is cupping an effective treatment? An overview of systematic reviews. [2022]