NCT06900556

Dry Cupping for Recovery From Muscle Damage

Effect of Post-exercise Dry Cupping Therapy on Muscle Recovery

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 10 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study compares the effect of dry cupping to placebo cupping after muscle-damaging exercise on recovery of muscle strength, muscle swelling, and muscle soreness.

Detailed description

Dry cupping is a technique where cups are placed on the skin and a suction device is used to remove air from the cups. This study aims to investigate whether dry cupping therapy can enhance muscle recovery following exercise by measuring muscle soreness, swelling, and strength in the biceps. Six sets of biceps curls (emphasizing concentric and eccentric overload) will be performed on each arm, followed by dry cupping with suction applied to one arm (experimental) and dry cupping without suction (placebo) applied to the opposite arm. Experimental and placebo arms for each participant will be randomized. Before exercise and immediately, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after exercise, muscle strength, muscle swelling (ultrasound), and muscle soreness (visual analog scale) will be assessed.

Conditions

• Muscle Damage

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Dry cupping with suction	Dry cupping with suction applied to the biceps
PROCEDURE	Dry cupping without suction	Dry cupping without suction applied to the biceps

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-24
• Primary completion: 2025-04-30
• Completion: 2025-05-30
• First posted: 2025-03-28
• Last updated: 2026-02-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada