Dry Cupping for Recovery From Muscle Damage

February 19, 2026 updated by: Phil Chilibeck, University of Saskatchewan

Effect of Post-exercise Dry Cupping Therapy on Muscle Recovery

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

10

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Saskatchewan
      • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N5B2
        • College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female
  • 18-35 years old
  • Experienced with upper arm resistance training for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Conditions that might make exercise dangerous (determined by "yes" answers to the "Get Active Questionnaire")
  • Open wounds, scars, eczema, or other skin sensitivities on the biceps area

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dry cupping with suction
Procedure: Dry cupping with suction
Dry cupping with suction applied to the biceps
Sham Comparator: Dry cupping without suction
Procedure: Dry cupping without suction
Dry cupping without suction applied to the biceps

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Biceps isometric strength measured by dynamometry (Nm)
Time Frame: Change over 72 hours
Change over 72 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Biceps swelling (muscle thickness) measured with ultrasound (cm)
Time Frame: Change over 24 hours
Change over 24 hours
Biceps muscle soreness measured with a visual analog scale from 0 (no soreness) to 10 (maximal soreness)
Time Frame: Change over 72 hours
Change over 72 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Saskatchewan

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 24, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

May 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 17, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 21, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 28, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 19, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024_25_04

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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