Key result
Dry cupping significantly improved cognitive function (p=0.025) and mean anaerobic power (p=0.024), and reduced mental fatigue (p=0.049) in male athletes compared to no intervention.
Why the study?
Does 10 min of dry cupping improve muscle strength, anaerobic power, cognitive function, and mood states in male athletes?
RCT (n=12)
Open-label
Randomized crossover
No
Does 10 min of dry cupping improve muscle strength, anaerobic power, cognitive function, and mood states in male athletes?
Absolute Event Rate: 93.92% vs 86.16%
p-value: p=0.025
Dry cupping may improve mean anaerobic power and cognitive function while reducing mental fatigue in male athletes.
May support dry cupping in athletic protocols; extends limited RCT evidence for complementary therapies.
Objective: Dry cupping (DC) is widely used to improve sports performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of DC on muscle strength, anaerobic power, cognitive function, and mood states of athletes. Methods: In this counterbalanced quasi-experimental study with randomized crossover design, 12 male athletes participated. After signing a consent form, they randomly experienced two conditions (10 min of DC or no treatment) in two sessions one week apart. Muscle strength using a back and leg dynamometer, power anaerobic using the 30-second Wingate test, mood states using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, and cognitive function using the Tower of London test were measured after intervention. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-test considering a significance level of 0.05. Results: DC significantly increased mean power (t11=-2.625, p=0.024), with no significant effect on muscle strength (t11=1.106, p=0.293) and peak power (t11=-1.389, p=0.192). Treatment with DC had no significant effect on tension, depression, anger, vigor, confusion, calmness or happiness of subjects (p>0.05). In contrast, a significant decrease in mental fatigue (t11=2.209, p=0.049) and cognitive function (t11=-2.602, p=0.025) were observed after DC. Conclusion: DC can improve mean anaerobic power and cognitive function, and reduce fatigue of the athletes.
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Afsharnezhad et al. (2021) conducted an RCT in Healthy athletes (n=12). Dry Cupping vs. No intervention was evaluated on Cognitive function (Tower of London test score) (p=0.025). Dry cupping significantly improved cognitive function (p=0.025) and mean anaerobic power (p=0.024), and reduced mental fatigue (p=0.049) in male athletes compared to no intervention.
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