Abstract
The purpose for conducting this study was to examine then effects of dry cupping on plantar fascia pain and function in comparison to a control group with a placebo in an athletic population. Subjects were pooled from Sacramento State University who had plantar fasciitis and were from the athletic population. Twelve subjects were be randomly assigned to the cupping or the sham cupping therapy group. Each subject underwent the cupping or sham cupping therapy for two sessions throughout the week. A Verbal Numeric Rating Scale (VNRS) was used to access pain and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) was used to test function. The maximum amount of single leg calf raises and toes crunches performed in a minute were measured pre and post intervention. The Results showed no significant main effect for time, treatment, or interaction for both VNRS and FAAM (p>.05). There was a statistical significant interaction between the treatment and time on the number of single leg calf raises completed in a minute (p=.009). Average single leg calf raises for the cupping group at baseline: 38.67± 4.59, post intervention: 45.67 ± 3.26. Average single leg calf raises for the sham cupping group at baseline: 37.33± 1.51, post intervention: 34.83 ± 4.12. There was also statistically significant interaction between treatment and time on the number of toe crunches completed in a minute (p=.008). Average toe crunches for the cupping group at baseline: 60.67± 9.04, post intervention: 70.67 ± 13.59. Average toe crunches for the sham cupping group at baseline: 64.67± 14.96, post intervention: 62.83 ± 17.03. The results of this current study did not follow the trend of previous studies on cupping and musculoskeletal disorders that have found significance in pain and subjective functional measures. Although VNRS and FAAM were not significantly different between the two groups, the cupping therapy group was favored in both outcome measures. Based on these results, it appears that dry cupping the plantar fascia in patients with plantar fasciitis is effective in increasing the amount of single leg calf raises and toe crunches completed in a minute.