Table 1.
Characteristics of 23 included trials comparing cupping therapy and acupuncture for pain-related conditions
| Study ID | Diseases | Sample size | Age | Gender | Cupping group | Acupuncture group | Treatment duration (days) | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Rx/C) | Year (Rx/C) | M/F | ||||||
| Dong [18] | Cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type | 60/60 | 40.62 ± 14.57 41.15 ± 13.34 |
33/27 34/26 |
Wet cupping on Haoyi acupoint. If not effect, wet cupping on Zhengumai acupoint after 3 days and evaluate the effect on the seventh day | Acupuncture on bilateral cervical (C3–7), Jiaji (EX-B2) points, Dazhui (DU14), Fengchi (GB20), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4) with stimulation. 1×/day | 15 | Symptom score, total effective rate |
| Zhou [19] | Cervical spondylosis | 100/100 | 20–60 | Not reported | With Zhuang medicine lotus needle pricking and cupping therapy. 1×/2 days | Acupuncture on bilateral cervical (C3–7), Jiaji (EX-B2) points, Dazhui (DU14), Fengchi (GB20), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4) with stimulation. 1×/day | 20 | VAS, symptom improvement rate |
| Hu [20] | Cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type | 20/20 | 40.9 ± 3.5 42.8 ± 1.6 |
12/8 10/10 |
Wet cupping on Haoyi acupoint. If not effect, wet cupping on Zhengumai acupoint after 3 days and evaluate the effect on the seventh day | Acupuncture on bilateral cervical (C3–7), Jiaji (EX-B2) points, Dazhui (DU14), Fengchi (GB20), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4) with stimulation 30 min. 1×/day | 15 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Mou [21] | Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy | 68/56 | 46.4 ± 11.6 47.8 ± 11.9 |
34/34 24/32 |
Wet cupping on Dazhui (GV14) and Jianjing (GB21) acupoint 2×/week | Acupuncture on bilateral cervical (C3–7), Jiaji (EX-B2) points and Jianjing (GB 21) on the affected side, 30 min, 2×/week | 60 | VAS, NDI, CAS |
| A [22] | Cervical spondylosis | 43/43 | 45.3 ± 9.4 44.2 ± 9.2 |
23/20 22/21 |
Wet cupping on Haoyi acupoint. If not effect, wet cupping on Zhengumai acupoint after 9 days | Acupuncture on bilateral cervical (C3–7), Jiaji (EX-B2) points, Dazhui (DU14), Fengchi (GB20), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4) with stimulation, 1×/day, 25 min | 14 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Wang [23] | Cervical spondylosis | 72/72 | 45.9 ± 8.7 45.1 ± 7.9 |
79/65 | Wet cupping on Haoyi acupoint for 10 min. If not effect, wet cupping on Zhengumai acupoint after 3 days | Acupuncture on Fengchi (GB20), Wangu (GB12), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Baihui (GV20), Tianzhu (BL10), Yunting, Jiaji (EX-B2), 1×/day, 25 min | 14 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Na [24] | Cervical spondylosis | 28/28 | 45.1 ± 8.5 44.3 ± 8.9 |
15/13 17/11 |
Wet cupping on Haoyi acupoint. If not effect, wet cupping on Zhengumai acupoint after 9 days and evaluate the effect on the 12 day | Acupuncture on bilateral cervical (C3–7), Jiaji (EX-B2) points, Dazhui (DU14), Fengchi (GB20), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4) with stimulation, 1×/day, 25 min | 14 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Wang [25] | Knee osteoarthritis | 40/40 | 42–68 | 62/58 | Wet cupping on tender point (Ashi), Xiyan (EX-LE5), Heding (EX-LE2), Yanglingwquan (GB34), Liangqiu (ST34), 1×/2 days | Acupuncture: abdominal acupuncture on Zhongwan (N12), Guanyuan (N4), Shuifen (RN9), Qipang, Waling, Xiafengshidian, Xiafenshineidian with stimulation, 30 min | 23 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Wang [26] | Knee osteoarthritis | 89/82 | 59 ± 9 61 ± 8 |
18/71 21/61 |
Wet cupping on Xiyan (EX-LE2), tender acupoints (Ashi) for 5–10 times | Acupuncture on Xiyan (EX-LE2), tender acupoints (Ashi), 20 min for 5–10 times | 28 | VAS, WOMAC |
| Shu [27] | Lateral femoral cutaneous neuritis | 25/25 | 50.32 ± 10.44 50.88 ± 9.27 |
14/11 12/13 |
Wet cupping on tender point and Yanglingquan (GB34), 30 min, 1×/2 days | Local multiple superficial needling, 30 min, 1×/2 days | 21 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Zhang [28] | Lateral femoral cutaneous neuritis | 26/26 | 46.9 47.6 |
20/6 21/5 |
Wet cupping on tender point | Local Multiple superficial needling, 30 min, 1×/2 days | 21 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Wang [29] | Lumber disk herniation | 32/30 | 20–60 | 48/45 | Wet cupping in tender point (Ashi) and surface reflect lesion site and retained for 5–1 min, 1×/2 days | Acupuncture on traditional site, 30 min, 1×/day. | 28 | JOA score, symptom improvement rate |
| Zhou [30] | The third lumber vertebral transverse process syndrome | 60/60 | 35.1 35.9 |
38/22 34/26 |
Wet cupping on tender point (Ashi) and retained cupping for 5 min | Acupuncture on Ashi, Jiaji (EX-B2), Huantiao (GB30), Weizhong (BL40), 20 min, 1×/2 days | 28 | VAS, Symptom improvement rate |
| Zhang [31] | Postherpetic neuralgia | 20/20 | 61 ± 7 60 ± 7 |
12/8 13/7 |
Wet cupping on Ashi for 3–10 min, 1×/2 days | Acuponcture around the pain site for 20–30 mins, 1×/day | 10 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Huang [32] | Postherpetic neuralgia | 49/47 | 65.35 64.28 |
28/21 25/22 |
Wet cupping with Zhuang lotus needle on Longji, Jiaji (EX-B2), Jianjing (GB21), Ashi and retained cupping for 5–10 min, 1×/2 days | Acupuncture on Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Xuehai (SP10), Zusanli (ST36) and tender points (Ashi), 25 min. 1×/day | 30 | Symptom improvement rate, VAS |
| Wu [33] | Toothache | 204/203 | Not reported | Not reported | Wet cupping on Dazhui (DU14), Jiaji (EX-B2) and flash cupping around Dazhui for 10–15 min, 1×/day | Acupuncture on traditional site | Not Reported | Symptom improvement rate |
| Bao [34] | Scapulohumeral periarthritis | 52/52 | 57.1 ± 7.9 56.2 ± 8.6 |
28/24 26/26 |
Wet cupping on Jian, Jianqian, Jianhou and Ashi, 1×/week | Acupuncture on Jinayu (LI15), Jianzhen (SI9), Jianliao (SJ14), Jinaqian, Quchi (LI11), Waiguan (SJ5), Yanglingquan (GB34), 30 min, 1×/day | 15 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Sha [35] | Scapulohumeral periarthritis | 52/52 | 51.1 ± 5.8 51.3 ± 6.5 |
28/24 29/23 |
Wet cupping on Jian, Jianqian, Jianhou and Ashi, 1×/week | Acupuncture on Jinayu (LI15), Jianzhen (SI9), Jianliao (SJ14), Jinaqian, Quchi (LI11), Waiguan (SJ5), Yanglingquan (GB34), 30 min, 1×/day | 15 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Liu [36] | Muscles fibrositis | 38/38 | 30–60 | 19/19 23/15 |
Flash cupping on tender points and retained for 10–15 min, 1×/day | Electricacupuncture on traditional acupoints. 1×/day | 16 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Huang [37] | Soft tissue contusion | 132/132 | 4–69 | 107/157 | Wet cupping on Ashi. 1×/day | Resistance acupuncture on the contusion site | 7 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Zhou [38] | Acute lumbar sprain | 26/26 | 41.27 ± 8.76 39.38 ± 8.12 |
9/17 12/14 |
Wet cupping on waist area of the bladder meridian for 5 mins, 1×/2 days | Acupuncture on bladder meridian for 30 min, 1×/day | 10 | Symptom improvement rate, temperature difference of body surface |
| Wang [39] | Acute ankle joint | 47/73 | 9–60 | 36/37 25/22 |
Wet cupping on Ashi, 10 min 1×/2 days | Acupuncture on Ashi or surrounding acupoint, 1×/2 days | 20 | Symptom improvement rate |
| Cao [40] | Fibromyalgia | 29/27 | Not reported | Not reported | Cupping for tender points, 3×/week | Acupuncture for tender points, 3×/week | 35 | VAS, SF36, HAMD |
VAS Visual Analogue Scale, NDI neck disability index (physical therapy), CAS the Clinical Assessment Scale, WOMAC the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, JOA the Joint Operational Area, SF-36 the MOS item short from health survey, HAMD the Hamilton Depression Scale