Assessment of the Short-Term Efficacy of a Wet-Cupping Therapy Session in Alleviating Symptoms of Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Single-Arm Clinical Trial

Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 133 - 139, 03.09.2024

İlknur Topal Yarat , Selin Bozkurt Alp , Ahmet Üşen , Ayten Güner Atayoğlu

https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1507281

Abstract

Fibromyalgia holds significant importance in both primary care and physical treatment settings due
to its high prevalence and the challenges associated with its diagnosis and management. This study
aims to assess the short-term efficacy of a wet-cupping therapy session in alleviating symptoms of
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). This study employed a prospective, single-arm intervention design.
Baseline and post-treatment evaluations encompassed a comprehensive battery of assessment tools:
Socio-Demographic Questionary, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck
Depression Scale (BDS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). A total of 20 eligible individuals
were enrolled in the study. Significant alterations in pain perception, as measured by the VAS, were
evident both prior to treatment and at the end of the first week of treatment (p < 0.001).
Additionally, significant favorable effects of the treatment were observed on FSS and BDS levels
during the initial week of therapy (p = 0.001, p = 0.01; respectively). Moreover, a marked
improvement was identified in FIQ scores after treatment compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Across
all evaluated clinical indicators, cupping therapy exhibited a significant positive influence on FMS. In
conclusion, wet cupping therapy yields favorable outcomes in terms of pain perception, fatigue
reduction, mood enhancement, and the overall impact of fibromyalgia syndrome. Thus, it offers a
promising avenue for therapeutic intervention among individuals afflicted by this condition.

Keywords

wet-cupping therapy, fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire pain

Ethical Statement

Ethical Considerations The study adhered to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Ethics Board of Istanbul Medipol University (Approval number:20, Date: 3 December 2020). Prior to the commencement of this study, a comprehensive informed consent process was diligently undertaken with all participants. The participants were provided with detailed explanations regarding the study's objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits. This ensured that participants had a clear understanding of what their involvement would entail.

Supporting Institution

No financial support.

Thanks

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants who generously dedicated their time and effort to take part in this study. This research would not have been possible without their active involvement and commitment to advancing knowledge in the field.

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