Effectiveness of Dry Cupping Therapy on Fatigue and Quality of Life of Women with Multiple Sclerosis: Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It can cause severe psychological problems and reduce their Quality of Life (QOL). Cupping therapy is known as a method of alternative medicine that can be used to treat or reduce patient symptoms. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effect of dry cupping therapy on the fatigue and QOL of women with MS.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients (30 patients in each group) with MS referred to the Medical Center of Special Diseases in southeast Iran. Patients in the intervention group received eight sessions of dry cupping therapy twice a week over 4 weeks, while the control group received routine fatigue reduction methods. Data were collected before and after the intervention by using the demographic information questionnaire, the Fatigue Severity Scale, and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18. The significance level was 0.05.

RESULTS

Thirty patients entered the study; none of them were excluded from the study, and 30 patients were finally analyzed. Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of fatigue (intervention group: 47.67) 7.83); control group: 47.63) 8.76)) and QOL (intervention group: 48.85) 9.55); control group: 49.64) 9.90) (t = 0.018, p = 0.98 and t = 0.31, p = 0.75, respectively)). After performing cupping therapy in the intervention group, a significant decrease and increase were observed in the mean (SD) score of fatigue (intervention group: 34.48) 6.16); control group: 46.85 (8.95)) and QOL (intervention group: 60.14) 7.46); control group: 51.96) 9.45)), respectively (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings showed that cupping therapy significantly reduced the patients' fatigue and increased their QOL. This method is recommended for reducing fatigue and improving QOL in patients with MS.