Blood Cupping in Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Novel Cost Effective & Safe Therapy

Abstract

Objective: To introduce a safe alternative treatment and investigate it at pathophysiological level for knee osteoarthritis and its impact on quality of life and well-being. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Settings: Department of Surgery, THQ Hospital Gojra. Duration: from January 2017 to January 2018. Methodology: 108 patients including males and females age between 45-60 years were selected. Two groups A & B included 54 patients each (27 males, 27 females) were formed. Group “A” received blood cupping therapy and group “B” (control group) was given NSAIDs. Only 8 weeks follow-up was conducted to determine treatment effects utilizing both subjective and objective assessment. Results: There was statistically remarkable difference between level of pain, well-being and range of motion for patients with knee osteoarthritis pre and post cupping. The viability of cupping therapy has been investigated and results demonstrated advancement because of cupping. It is emphatically suggested that further studies must be led with huge sample size and of longer duration. Conclusion: Blood cupping is beneficial and curative and never harmful and there is a dire need for using blood cupping in treating human diseases that are not responding well to current treatment modalities.