Published Paper Details:

Background: Post-stroke spasticity is a significant complication that affects approximately 40% of stroke survivors, leading to impaired motor control and functional limitations. While conventional physiotherapy offers moderate results, complementary techniques like cupping therapy have shown emerging promises in neuromuscular rehabilitation. Case Presentation: This case report discusses a 54-year-old male patient who presented with right hemiparesis following a cerebrovascular accident. He reported difficulty in hand function, balance, and ambulation. Initial assessment revealed increased tone in multiple upper and lower limb muscle groups, as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and impaired motor function using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). Intervention: The patient underwent static and dynamic cupping therapy over four weeks (2 sessions/week, total 8 sessions), along with conventional neurorehabilitation. Static cupping involved placement of cups on spastic muscles, while dynamic cupping involved gliding movements over lubricated skin for myofascial release. Cupping was administered to affected muscles including the biceps, wrist flexors, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius. Results: Post-treatment, MAS scores showed reduced spasticity in both upper and lower limbs. FMA scores improved from 45/66 to 54/66 in the upper limb and from 17/34 to 23/34 in the lower limb, resulting in an overall score increase of 15 points. Functional gains were observed in voluntary motor control, trunk stability, and gait. Conclusion: The combined use of static and dynamic cupping therapy with rehabilitation training significantly reduced spasticity and improved motor outcomes. Dynamic cupping, in particular, contributed to enhanced neuromuscular modulation. These findings support cupping as a valuable adjunct in stroke rehabilitation.