The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes

Mihri Barış Karavelioğlu; Said Altıkat; Gizem Başkaya

doi:10.54141/psbd.1639863

The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of wet cupping therapy (WCT) on post-exercise recovery in active athletes. A total of 11 healthy and active athletes, with a mean age of 21.4 ± 1.77 years, an average height of 1.77 ± 0.1 m, a mean body weight of 75.4 ± 5.65 kg, and an average training experience of 10.6 ± 2.35 years, voluntarily participated in the study. Initially, the participants' resting heart rate and blood lactate levels were measured, followed by the Yoyo-1 test conducted until exhaustion. During the first measurement, heart rate and blood lactate levels were recorded post-exercise recovery at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, and 30 minutes. In the second measurement, the same test protocol was applied; however, this time, WCT was administered post-exercise recovery, and the same measurements were repeated at identical intervals. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and groups were compared using the Paired-Samples T-Test, with a significance level set at p<0.05. The results indicated that WCT had a significant effect on reducing blood lactate levels and heart rate after exercise. These findings suggest that WCT may be an effective method for enhancing recovery.

Keywords

References

Abdelfattah, A., Zureigat, A., Almotiri, A., Alzughailat, M., Al-Khreisat, M. J., & Abdel Fattah, O. (2024). The impact of wet cupping on haematological and inflammatory parameters in a sample of Jordanian team players. Heliyon, 10(7), e29330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29330
Afonso, J., Clemente, F. M., Nakamura, F. Y., Morouço, P., Sarmento, H., Inman, R. A., & Ramirez-Campillo, R. (2021). The effectiveness of post-exercise stretching in short-term and delayed recovery of strength, range of motion, and delayed onset muscle soreness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 677581. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.677581
Ahmaıdı, S., Granier, P., Taoutaou, Z., Mercıer, J., Dubouchaud, H., & Prefaut, C. (1996). Effects of active recovery on plasma lactate and anaerobic power following repeated intensive exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 28(4), 450–456. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199604000-00010
Al-Bedah, A. M. N., Elsubai, I. S., Qureshi, N. A., Aboushanab, T. S., Ali, G. I. M., El-Olemy, A. T., Khalil, A. A. H., Khalil, M. K. M., & Alqaed, M. S. (2018). The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 9(2), 90–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2018.03.003
Calleja-Gonzalez, J., Marques-Jimenez, D., Jones, M., Huyghe, T., Navarro, F., Delextrat, A., Jukic, I., Ostojic, S. M., Sampaio, J. E., Schelling, X., Alcaraz, P. E., Sanchez-Bañuelos, F., Leibar, X., Mielgo-Ayuso, J., & Terrados, N. (2020). What are we doing wrong when athletes report higher levels of fatigue from traveling than from training or competition? Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 194. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00194
Cao, H., Li, X., Yan, X., Wang, N. S., Bensoussan, A., & Liu, J. (2014). Cupping therapy for acute and chronic pain management: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, 1(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcms.2014.11.001
Coates, A. M., Joyner, M. J., Little, J. P., Jones, A. M., & Gibala, M. J. (2023). A perspective on high-intensity interval training for performance and health. Sports Medicine, 53(Suppl 1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01938-6
Davis, H. L., Alabed, S., & Chico, T. J. A. (2020). Effect of sports massage on performance and recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), e000614. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000614

Delextrat, A., Calleja-González, J., Hippocrate, A., & Clarke, N. D. (2013). Effects of sports massage and intermittent cold-water immersion on recovery from matches by basketball players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.719241
Dergaa, I., Ghram, A., Romdhani, M., Souissi, A., Ammar, A., Farahat, R. A., Fessi, M. S., Irandoust, K., Taheri, M., Masmoudi, T., Dergaa, M. A., Souissi, N., Hammouda, O., Weiss, K., Chamari, K., Ben Saad, H., & Knechtle, B. (2023). Does wet-cupping therapy improve repeated sprint ability, perceived wellness, and rating of perceived exertion in young active males? Sports Medicine and Health Science, 6(4), 378–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2023.09.007
Ekrami, N., Ahmadian, M., Nourshahi, M., & Shakouri, H. (2021). Wet-cupping induces anti-inflammatory action in response to vigorous exercise among martial arts athletes: A pilot study. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 56, 102611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102611
Fullagar, H. H., Duffield, R., Skorski, S., Coutts, A. J., Julian, R., & Meyer, T. (2015). Sleep and recovery in team sport: Current sleep-related issues facing professional team-sport athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10(8), 950–957. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2014-0565
Harris, P. R., Keen, D. A., Constantopoulos, E., Weninger, S. N., Hines, E., Koppinger, M. P., Khalpey, Z. I., & Konhilas, J. P. (2019). Fluid type influences acute hydration and muscle performance recovery in human subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 16(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0282-y
Irandoust, K., Ben Saad, H., Mohammadgholiha, F., Taheri, M., & Dergaa, I. (2022). Effects of dry cupping therapy and creatine supplementation on inflammatory and cardiovascular responses to the Wingate test in handball players. La Tunisie Médicale, 100(3), 262–269.
Kaesaman, N., & Eungpinichpong, W. (2019). The acute effect of traditional Thai massage on recovery from fatigue in basketball players. Geomate Journal, 16(55), 53–58.
Karavelioğlu, M. B., Altıkat, S., Başkaya, G., & Gökçelik, E. (2019). Investigation of the effect of wet cupping application on certain performance and blood parameters of athletes. Sportif Bakış: Spor ve Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 6(1), 74–84.
Karavelioğlu, M. B., Başkaya, G., & Karavelioğlu, B. (2021). Examination of the effect of different warm-up protocols on speed and vertical jump performance in child soccer players. Sportif Bakış: Spor ve Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(2), 244–256.
Karavelioğlu, M. B., Korkmaz, S. H., Hadi, G., & Aydın, S. (2024). An investigation of the effects of different warm-up protocols on some performance values of young football players. Sportif Bakış: Spor ve Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 11(2), 147–162.
Kiloatar, H., Delibay, A. A., Turutgen, N., & Karavelioglu, M. B. (2024). Can manual lymph drainage be considered as a passive recovery strategy? Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2023-0301
King, M., Duffield, R. (2009). The effects of recovery interventions on consecutive days of intermittent sprint exercise. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(6), 1795-1802.
Mihajlovic, M., Cabarkapa, D., Cabarkapa, D. V., Philipp, N. M., & Fry, A. C. (2023). Recovery methods in basketball: A systematic review. Sports, 11(11), 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11110230
Musumeci, G. (2016). Could cupping therapy be used to improve sports performance? Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 1(4), 373–377. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk1040373
Orrù, S., Imperlini, E., Nigro, E., Alfieri, A., Cevenini, A., Polito, R., Daniele, A., Buono, P., & Mancini, A. (2018). Role of functional beverages on sport performance and recovery. Nutrients, 10(10), 1470. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101470
Pelana, R., Raharjo, S., Sulaiman, I., & Hermanto, C. (2020). Effects of cold-water immersion to aid basketball athlete’s recovery after high-intensity interval training. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29, 2052–2056.
Plews, D. J., Laursen, P. B., Kilding, A. E., & Buchheit, M. (2014). Heart-rate variability and training-intensity distribution in elite rowers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9(6), 1026–1032. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0497
Querido, S. M., Radaelli, R., Brito, J., Vaz, J. R., & Freitas, S. R. (2022). Analysis of recovery methods' efficacy applied up to 72 hours postmatch in professional football: A systematic review with graded recommendations. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 17(9), 1326–1342. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2022-0038
Sarı, R., Demirkan, E., & Kaya, M. (2016). Investigation of the effect of different recovery practices on lactic acid levels in swimmers. Contemporary Medical Journal, 6(4), 327–333. https://doi.org/10.16899/ctd.59324
Teut, M., Kaiser, S., Ortiz, M., Roll, S., Binting, S., Willich, S. N., & Brinkhaus, B. (2012). Pulsatile dry cupping in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee–a randomized controlled exploratory trial. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 12, 1-9.
Umar, N. K., Tursunbadalov, S., Surgun, S., Welcome, M. O., & Dane, S. (2018). The effects of wet cupping therapy on the blood levels of some heavy metals: A pilot study. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 11(6), 375–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2018.08.185
Valenzuela, P. L., de la Villa, P., & Ferragut, C. (2015). Effect of two types of active recovery on fatigue and climbing performance. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 14(4), 769–775. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4657419/
Van Hooren, B., & Peake, J. M. (2018). Do we need a cool-down after exercise? A narrative review of the psychophysiological effects and the effects on performance, injuries, and the long-term adaptive response. Sports Medicine, 48(7), 1575–1595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0916-2
Wiewelhove, T., Döweling, A., Schneider, C., Hottenrott, L., Meyer, T., Kellmann, M., Pfeiffer, M., & Ferrauti, A. (2019). A meta-analysis of the effects of foam rolling on performance and recovery. Frontiers in Physiology, 10, 376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00376

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Exercise Physiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mihri Barış Karavelioğlu ^*
0000-0003-3536-2485
Türkiye

Said Altıkat
0000-0002-5763-3787
Türkiye

Gizem Başkaya
0000-0002-6001-1727
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 30, 2025

Submission Date

February 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 29, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1639863

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA68FZ49GR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Karavelioğlu, M. B., Altıkat, S., & Başkaya, G. (2025). The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, 16(2), 333-346. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1639863

AMA

1.Karavelioğlu MB, Altıkat S, Başkaya G. The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025;16(2):333-346. doi:10.54141/psbd.1639863

Chicago

Karavelioğlu, Mihri Barış, Said Altıkat, and Gizem Başkaya. 2025. “The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16 (2): 333-46. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1639863.

EndNote

Karavelioğlu MB, Altıkat S, Başkaya G (August 1, 2025) The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16 2 333–346.

IEEE

[1]M. B. Karavelioğlu, S. Altıkat, and G. Başkaya, “The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes”, Pamukkale J Sport Sci, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 333–346, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.54141/psbd.1639863.

ISNAD

Karavelioğlu, Mihri Barış - Altıkat, Said - Başkaya, Gizem. “The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16/2 (August 1, 2025): 333-346. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1639863.

JAMA

1.Karavelioğlu MB, Altıkat S, Başkaya G. The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025;16:333–346.

MLA

Karavelioğlu, Mihri Barış, et al. “The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, vol. 16, no. 2, Aug. 2025, pp. 333-46, doi:10.54141/psbd.1639863.

Vancouver

1.Mihri Barış Karavelioğlu, Said Altıkat, Gizem Başkaya. The Effect of Wet Cupping Therapy on Recovery in Athletes. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025 Aug. 1;16(2):333-46. doi:10.54141/psbd.1639863