Effect Of Cupping Therapy On Respiratory Gas Exchange And Hip Extensor Force Production In Runners

Abstract

Literature on the efficacy of cupping therapy (CT) is limited. Potential mechanisms of action of cupping therapy include increased localized blood and restructuring of fascial protein conformations through mechanotransduction, which has implications for improved running economy (RE) and hip extensor force production (HEFP). PURPOSE: To elucidate the effects of myofascial decompression through CT on RE and HEFP in well-trained runners. METHODS: Five minutes of CT or placebo gel was applied to bilateral gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus of 7 female (29.3 ± 2.1 yrs, 1.68 ± 0.06 m, 60.2 ± 3.4 kg) and 8 male (27.5 ± 6.2 yrs, 1.77 ± 0.04 m, 69.1 ± 4.0 kg) well-trained runners (female 10-km time = 41.4 ± 4.4 min, male 10-km time = 33.5 ± 1.2 min) after a 10-minute treadmill warm-up. Maximal HEFP was measured immediately post CT or gel using an isokinetic dynamometer. Then RE was measured using two 6-minute steady-state treadmill runs (fixed velocity and subject 10-km velocity). Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) test followed the RE tests. All subjects performed both conditions in randomized order separated by at least 1 week, but not more than 3 weeks. Maximal HEFP, RE, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during steady-state, and VO2 max after CT and gel were compared independently using paired two-sample t-tests. Effect size for all variables was calculated using Cohen’s d. RESULTS: Maximal HEFP was not significantly different between conditions (CT: 1.63 ± 0.47 Nm.kg-1; 1.51 ± 0.40 Nm.kg-1, p = 0.18, d = 0.29). There was no difference in RE expressed as %VO2 max between CT and gel (fixed = 76.9 ± 10.6% of VO2 max vs. 76.6 ± 10.5% of VO2 max, p = 0.72, d = 0.02; 10-km = 84.2 ± 7.2% of VO2 max vs. 83.7 ± 6.9% of VO2 max, p = 0.17, d = 0.07). There was also no difference in VO2 max between CT and gel (65.1 ± 9.1 ml.kg-1.min-1vs. 65.0 ± 10.3 ml.kg-1.min-1, p = 0.96, d = 0.004); however, RER was significantly increased by CT compared to gel (fixed = 0.92 ± 0.06 vs. 0.90 ± 0.04, p = 0.04, d = 0.32; 10-km = 0.94 ± 0.04 vs. 0.92 ± 0.03, p = 0.02, d = 0.52). CONCLUSIONS: Acute cupping therapy increases steady-state carbon dioxide expiration in well-trained runners without changing oxygen consumption. This has implications for enhanced buffering from putative increased localized blood.