<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<italic>Study aim</italic>: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of single ischemic compression and cupping therapy on the most common trigger point, on the descending part of the trapezius muscle.
<italic>Materials and methods</italic>: Twenty-five students (15 women and 10 men) aged 24.20 ± 1.27 years were enrolled in the study. The mobility of the cervical spine area was measured with a measuring tape. The pain pressure threshold of the trigger point of the trapezius muscle was tested using a Wagner FDX 50 Force Gage digital algometer. Each person participated in three tests with an interval of approximately one week between them. The following study protocol was followed; 1) cupping therapy, with a cup statically positioned on the trigger point for two minutes, 2) at a minimum interval of 7 days, ischemic compression performed with the thumb twice for 1 minute on each side 3) control test at an interval of another 7 days.
<italic>Results</italic>: Ischemic compression resulted in a statistically significant difference in cervical spine mobility scores (except for extension) and pain pressure threshold values. After applying cups, statistically significant differences were also observed in the results of cervical spine mobility and pain pressure threshold values. No statistically significant differences were found in the effectiveness of the therapies tested.
<italic>Conclusions</italic>: In the present study, single trigger point cupping and ischemic compression therapies improved cervical spine mobility and resulted in an increase in the pain pressure threshold in the trapezius muscle trigger point. These two therapies did not differ in terms of their effectiveness.
</abstract>

Study aim: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of single ischemic compression and cupping therapy on the most common trigger point, on the descending part of the trapezius muscle.
Materials and methods: Twenty-five students (15 women and 10 men) aged 24.20 ± 1.27 years were enrolled in the study. The mobility of the cervical spine area was measured with a measuring tape. The pain pressure threshold of the trigger point of the trapezius muscle was tested using a Wagner FDX 50 Force Gage digital algometer. Each person participated in three tests with an interval of approximately one week between them. The following study protocol was followed; 1) cupping therapy, with a cup statically positioned on the trigger point for two minutes, 2) at a minimum interval of 7 days, ischemic compression performed with the thumb twice for 1 minute on each side 3) control test at an interval of another 7 days.
Results: Ischemic compression resulted in a statistically significant difference in cervical spine mobility scores (except for extension) and pain pressure threshold values. After applying cups, statistically significant differences were also observed in the results of cervical spine mobility and pain pressure threshold values. No statistically significant differences were found in the effectiveness of the therapies tested.
Conclusions: In the present study, single trigger point cupping and ischemic compression therapies improved cervical spine mobility and resulted in an increase in the pain pressure threshold in the trapezius muscle trigger point. These two therapies did not differ in terms of their effectiveness.

Trigger point therapy – ischemic compression or perhaps cupping?

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education

Biomedical Human Kinetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Trigger point therapy \u2013 ischemic compression or perhaps cupping?"}

Study aim: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of single ischemic compression and cupping therapy on the most common trigger point, on the descending...

Trigger point therapy – ischemic compression or perhaps cupping?

Published Online: Sep 30, 2022

Page range: 236 - 243

Received: Apr 15, 2022

Accepted: Jul 05, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2022-0029

Keywords
Trigger point, Trapezius, Algometer, Cupping, Ischemic compression

© 2022 Adam Niemaszyk et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Trigger point therapy – ischemic compression or perhaps cupping?

Published Online: Sep 30, 2022

Page range: 236 - 243

Received: Apr 15, 2022

Accepted: Jul 05, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2022-0029

KeywordsTrigger point, Trapezius, Algometer, Cupping, Ischemic compression

© 2022 Adam Niemaszyk et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Trigger point, Trapezius, Algometer, Cupping, Ischemic compression