Scavarelli Natasha T, Sanzo Paolo
Department of Kinesiology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, CANADA.
Int J Exerc Sci. 2024 Apr 1;17(3):551-564. doi: 10.70252/UCSB1713. eCollection 2024.
Dry cupping is a therapeutic modality proposed to produce a negative pressure, stretching the skin and underlying tissue. This mechanism is said to promote regional blood flow of oxygenated blood and causing a physiological stretch in the tissue, allowing it to elongate and potentially changing skin temperature. The possible effects of the application to the lumbar spine paraspinal muscles, however, has not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the immediate effects of dry cupping the lumbar paraspinals on lumbar spine range of motion (ROM) and overlying skin temperature. 30 healthy individuals aged 18-30 years completed the study. The dry cupping was placed on the lumbar paraspinal muscles for 10-minutes. Two plastic cups were placed on the bilateral paraspinals muscles at L1 and L5. Lumbar spine flexion ROM and skin temperature were measured pre- and post-intervention. Descriptive statistics and paired sample -tests were used to analyze the data ( < .05). There was a statistically significant increase in lumbar spine flexion ROM measured with the Sit and Reach Test, (29) = 12.62 = 0.001; = 2.34, and inclinometry, (29) = 11.10, = 0.001; = 3.86, with a large effect size. There was also a statistically significant decrease in the skin temperature of the lumbar spine paraspinals, (29) = -2.23, 0.034; = 0.75, with a medium effect size, post-intervention. Dry cupping may be an effective strategy to increase lumbar spine ROM and decrease stiffness, promote recovery, and reduce functional limitations. Future research may examine the difference in effectiveness of static compared to dynamic cupping in a symptomatic population.
干拔罐是一种治疗方法，旨在产生负压，拉伸皮肤和深层组织。据说这种机制可促进局部含氧血液的流动，并使组织产生生理性拉伸，使其能够伸长，并可能改变皮肤温度。然而，将其应用于腰椎旁肌肉的可能效果尚未得到充分研究。本初步研究的目的是探讨对腰椎旁肌肉进行干拔罐对腰椎活动范围（ROM）和覆盖皮肤温度的即时影响。30名年龄在18至30岁之间的健康个体完成了该研究。干拔罐置于腰椎旁肌肉上10分钟。在L1和L5水平的双侧旁肌肉上放置两个塑料杯。在干预前后测量腰椎前屈ROM和皮肤温度。采用描述性统计和配对样本检验分析数据（P<0.05）。使用坐立前屈测试测量时，腰椎前屈ROM有统计学显著增加，t（29）=12.62，P = 0.001；效应量d = 2.34；使用倾角仪测量时，t（29）=11.10，P = 0.001；效应量d = 3.86，效应量较大。干预后，腰椎旁肌肉的皮肤温度也有统计学显著下降，t（29）= -2.23，P = 0.034；效应量d = 0.75，效应量中等。干拔罐可能是增加腰椎ROM、降低僵硬程度、促进恢复和减少功能限制的有效策略。未来的研究可以探讨在有症状人群中静态拔罐与动态拔罐效果的差异。
