Effect of Wet Cupping Application on Muscle Strength, Muscle Soreness and Sleep Quality in Athletes

One of the most common traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) methods among athletes is cupping application. The application performed by bleeding the skin is called wet cupping (hijama). One of the most importan parameters in athletic success is muscle strenght. Our aim is to investigate the effect of wet cupping application on muscle strength, muscle soreness and sleep quality. 14 volunteer men aged 20-24 were included in this study. After the necessary information was given to the volunteers, their written consent was obtained and they were checked for their fitness for exercise. Volunteers were divided into two groups: Cupping application group (CAG, n:7) and the control group (CG, n:7). Leg extension and leg felexion values of volunteers were measured for calculating one repitition maximum weight (1RM). All volunteers were rested during one week. For CAG group; after warm-up and stretching exercises, leg quadriceps muscle strength was measured with a dynamometer. Afterwards, leg extantion, leg flexion and squat exercises were performed as 10x3 set. One minute recovery was given between each of sets. After resting, the specialist and certified physician applied wet cupping on the back area of the subjects. After 30 minutes, the muscle test was repeated and VAS scores were recorded for quadriceps and hamstring. In addition, Richard Campbell's sleep quality test was applied. The muscle test and VAS scores were measured again after 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. For CG group; the same tests and exercises were performed without applying wet cupping. After a month, the groups were crossed. The wet cupping was applied to the group that did not receive the cupping, and the tests were repeated in both groups. Thus, adaptation was prevented. Student-t test was used for comparisons between groups, and ANOVA test with repeated measures was used for within group comparisons. Our results showed that VAS values in CAG were significantly lower than CG. The sleep quality index was significantly higher in CAG than in CG. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of quadriceps muscle strength. According to these results, we can say that wet cupping application reduces muscle soreness, improves sleep quality, but does not increase muscle strength.