Dry Cupping Therapy for Improving Nonspecific Neck Pain and Subcutaneous Hemodynamics

Key Points

• Dry cupping therapy reduced neck pain and increased oxygenated and total hemoglobin levels immediately after an 8-minute treatment session.

• Although short-term benefits after dry cupping therapy were observed, all effects were diminished 24 hours after the intervention.

• Researchers should continue to investigate the physiological benefits of dry cupping therapy to better understand and implement this technique in clinical practice.

• Appropriate treatment times, pressure values, and cup placement and sizing for dry cupping therapy must be evaluated to ensure proper treatment.

Nearly two-thirds of the human population experience neck pain at some point during their lifespan.¹ Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions; the true cause of nonspecific (uncomplicated) neck pain is not fully understood but is thought to be multifactorial.² The diagnosis of nonspecific neck pain generally occurs when no other diseases or pathologic conditions are present to explain the neck pain.³ Limited high-quality evidence has supported conservative treatment options for nonspecific neck pain.⁴ This has allowed researchers and clinicians to begin investigating the effectiveness of complementary methods, such as cupping therapy, for treating this condition.^5–8

Traditional Chinese cupping therapy has been used to treat a variety of medical ailments, such as musculoskeletal injuries, dermatologic conditions, and chemical imbalances within the body.⁹ Although traditional Chinese medicine has been available for centuries, Western culture has recently demonstrated a growing interest in these complementary methods, such as acupuncture and cupping therapy.¹⁰

Several theories have been proposed to explain the efficacy of dry cupping therapy. Some have indicated that, by manipulating the negative pressure created from a vacuum mechanism, cupping can distract the skin and its underlying tissues upward into the center of a cup.¹¹ The suction effect was originally created by igniting a fire within a cup to increase the internal temperature of the cup. As the flame extinguished, the cup was placed on the skin, subsequently cooling the air inside the cup and creating a vacuum between the cup and underlying tissues. A more modern method involves using a handheld pump to extract the air between the cup and skin to induce a suction effect.¹² Distraction of the skin is believed to increase localized blood flow and enhance tissue healing, reduce...