The effects of cupping on muscle tenderness on collegiate baseball players
Location
Turner Gymnasium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Start Date
4-17-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
4-17-2024 1:15 PM
College
College of Health Sciences
Department
Athletic Training
Keywords
Cupping, Placebo, Baseball
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cupping treatment on perceived muscle tenderness of the latissimus dorsi muscle.
Methods: This was a randomized single blind study that compared a cupping treatment with 300 mmHg pressure, placebo with 150 mmHg pressure, and a control session with no cupping over three weeks. We recruited 15 NCAA Division 3 male baseball players (Age=18-23, Height=5’6”-6’3”, Mass=147 lbs-225lbs) to participate. We used a dynamometer to measure pre and post muscle tenderness 5 cm below the inferior angle of the scapula due to the latissimus dorsi being a main agonist for throwing mechanics. This location was chosen because of the common location of the muscle belly.
Results: There was a significant interaction between time and session. Post hoc tests with Bonferroni corrections showed differences in the experimental session from pre (mean=6.001 & (.452 + 3.232) to post (13.237 & -.452 + -3.232) test (P=.013). No other pairwise comparisons were significant (P>.05).
Discussion: With a single 15-minute cupping session, the immediate effect showed that muscle tenderness increased where the participant experienced a lower pain threshold. This is different from previous studies that indicated that cupping decreased muscle tenderness yet also combined the added benefit of placebo compared to each session which can be due to the increased blood flow and stimulation of superficial nerve endings.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Tom Bowman, Mr. Dane Bower
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The effects of cupping on muscle tenderness on collegiate baseball players
Turner Gymnasium
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cupping treatment on perceived muscle tenderness of the latissimus dorsi muscle.
Methods: This was a randomized single blind study that compared a cupping treatment with 300 mmHg pressure, placebo with 150 mmHg pressure, and a control session with no cupping over three weeks. We recruited 15 NCAA Division 3 male baseball players (Age=18-23, Height=5’6”-6’3”, Mass=147 lbs-225lbs) to participate. We used a dynamometer to measure pre and post muscle tenderness 5 cm below the inferior angle of the scapula due to the latissimus dorsi being a main agonist for throwing mechanics. This location was chosen because of the common location of the muscle belly.
Results: There was a significant interaction between time and session. Post hoc tests with Bonferroni corrections showed differences in the experimental session from pre (mean=6.001 & (.452 + 3.232) to post (13.237 & -.452 + -3.232) test (P=.013). No other pairwise comparisons were significant (P>.05).
Discussion: With a single 15-minute cupping session, the immediate effect showed that muscle tenderness increased where the participant experienced a lower pain threshold. This is different from previous studies that indicated that cupping decreased muscle tenderness yet also combined the added benefit of placebo compared to each session which can be due to the increased blood flow and stimulation of superficial nerve endings.