Effect of cupping therapy on nitric oxide level in patients with cervical spondylosis

Author: 
Prof. Dr. Amir Mohamed Saleh, Shady Abdelsattar Refaat Zaki, Ass.Prof. Dr. Ghada Abd el Moneam Abdullah and Ass. Prof. Dr. Islam M. Alazab

Background: Cervical spondylosis is a generalized disease process affecting all levels of the cervical spine. Cupping Therapy (CT) is an ancient method and currently used in the treatment of a broad range of medical conditions such as cervical spondylosis. Nitric Oxide (NO) is a signaling gas molecule that mediates vasodilation and regulates blood flow and several lines of evidence have indicated that NO plays a complex and diverse role in the modulation of pain. Purpose of Study was to investigate the effect of cupping therapy on pain intensity, cervical range of motion, neck function and nitric oxide level in patients with cervical spondylosis. Subjects and Methods: Sixty Patients with cervical spondylosis from both sexes referred from the orthopedic clinics for this study. They received 3 sessions of cupping once per month and each patient was evaluated for Pain intensity by the numerical analogue scale, cervical ROM by Cervical Range of Motion goniometer, Function by neck disability index and NO levels by the spectrophotometer, just before the treatment and after the three sessions. Results There was a significant decrease of pain level, cervical ROM, and function in addition there wasa significant increase in NO level and a direct correlation between NO level and NDI score improvement (p=0.037*) (r= 0.270). Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that there is a direct effect of cupping therapy on reducing pain, improving cervical ROM and function, and increasing NO level in treating patients with cervical spondylosis.

Paper No: 
4587