Vol. 7, Issue 7 (2018)

Author(s):
Uzma Parveen, Umar Jahangir, Roohi Azam, Bibhu Prasad Panda and Mohd Maaz

Abstract:
Osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative disease and knee joint is most affected joint. Globally 100 million people suffer from osteoarthritis. A significant rise in the prevalence of Knee Osteoarthritis has a considerable negative impact on the economy of developing countries. Current treatments available in conventional medicine carry a significant burden of side effects. To overcome the pain in knee osteoarthritis, cupping therapy is most recommended therapy nowadays. It is a treatment modality used most frequently particularly in Asian and Middle Eastern countries, in which a glass or plastic cup is used to create suction pressure on the skin over a cupping point. It has been claimed to reduce pain and other symptoms. Based on literature review of previous clinical trials conducted on cupping therapy, we present a thorough review of cupping therapy to evaluate and summarize the evidence regarding the effectiveness of cupping for pain management in patients of knee osteoarthritis and to confirm cupping as a singular treatment option for pain relief in knee osteoarthritis.