Song Xu, Ma Teng, Cui XianYou
School of Physical Education, Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction, Dongyang, China.
Department of Physical Education, Xinjiang Second Medical College, Xinjiang, China.
Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Aug 25;7:1622688. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1622688. eCollection 2025.
This study examined the impacts of different negative pressure cupping therapies (PCT) on pain relief, functional recovery, and inflammatory regulation in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after high-intensity exercise, with the aim of clarifying the dose-effect relationship.
In this study, 55 healthy male participants aged 18-25 were selected and divided into 5 groups: the control group (CTR; = 11) and NPCT groups at different levels (-25 kPa, -35 kPa, -45 kPa, and -55 kPa; = 11 in each group). A high-intensity protocol, which included 6 sets of lunges, squats, and squat jumps, was adopted to induce DOMS in the quadriceps femoris. Immediately after the exercise, the DGN-6 vacuum device was used for a 10 min NPCT treatment. The research outcomes included visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, lower extremity explosive strength tests (30-meter sprint and standing long jump), joint range of motion (ROM), and serum biomarkers [CK, LDH, and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and Hsp27)]. These were assessed at the baseline and 24 h after the intervention.
NPCT groups exhibited significantly lower VAS scores than the CTR group (-55 kPa: 1.57 ± 0.79 vs. 6.14 ± 0.69; < 0.05), and the efficacy was pressure-dependent (-55 kPa > -4 kPa > -35 kPa; < 0.01). Functional recovery was significantly improved in NPCT groups (30-meter sprint: 0.27 s; standing long jump: 0.08 m; < 0.01). Knee ROM increased by 5.71° at -55 kPa and 6.43° at -45 kPa ( < 0.05). Biochemically, CK/LDH levels normalized in -45 kPa and -55 kPa groups ( < 0.05). Meanwhile, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α decreased significantly ( < 0.05), and these changes were correlated with Hsp27 expression ( = 0.42-0.49; < 0.05).
These findings demonstrate that NPCT at pressures ranging from -45 kPa to -55 kPa is most effective in alleviating DOMS by enhancing hemodynamics and modulating the anti-inflammatory response, which supports its integration into post-exercise rehabilitation protocols.
https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=263241, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (Registration NO.: ChiCTR- 2500098071, 03/03/2025).
本研究探讨了不同负压拔罐疗法（PCT）对高强度运动后延迟性肌肉酸痛（DOMS）的疼痛缓解、功能恢复和炎症调节的影响，旨在阐明剂量效应关系。
本研究选取了55名年龄在18至25岁之间的健康男性参与者，将其分为5组：对照组（CTR；n = 11）和不同水平的负压拔罐疗法组（-25 kPa、-35 kPa、-45 kPa和-55 kPa；每组n = 11）。采用包括6组弓步蹲、深蹲和深蹲跳的高强度训练方案诱导股四头肌出现DOMS。运动结束后立即使用DGN - 6真空装置进行10分钟的负压拔罐疗法治疗。研究结果包括视觉模拟评分法（VAS）疼痛评分、下肢爆发力测试（30米短跑和立定跳远）、关节活动范围（ROM）以及血清生物标志物[肌酸激酶（CK）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）和炎症细胞因子（白细胞介素 - 6、肿瘤坏死因子 - α和热休克蛋白27（Hsp27））]。在基线和干预后24小时对这些指标进行评估。
负压拔罐疗法组的VAS评分显著低于对照组（-55 kPa：1.57 ± 0.79 vs. 6.14 ± 0.69；P < 0.05），且疗效呈压力依赖性（-55 kPa > -45 kPa > -35 kPa；P < 0.01）。负压拔罐疗法组的功能恢复显著改善（30米短跑：0.27秒；立定跳远：0.08米；P < 0.01）。在-55 kPa时膝关节ROM增加5.71°，在-45 kPa时增加6.43°（P < 0.05）。生化方面，-45 kPa和-55 kPa组的CK/LDH水平恢复正常（P < 0.05）。同时，白细胞介素 - 6和肿瘤坏死因子 - α水平显著降低（P < 0.05），且这些变化与热休克蛋白27表达相关（r = 0.42 - 0.49；P < 0.05）。
这些研究结果表明，-45 kPa至-55 kPa的负压拔罐疗法通过增强血流动力学和调节抗炎反应，在缓解DOMS方面最为有效，这支持将其纳入运动后康复方案。
https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=263241，中国临床试验注册中心（ChiCTR）（注册号：ChiCTR - 2500098071，2025年3月3日）
