Effect of Adding Functional Dry Cupping Treatment Based Thoracolumbar Fascia Stretching to a Conventional Physiotherapeutic Management of Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain in District Level Cricketers - An Annotated Bibliographic Review

Abstract

[Purpose] The most frequent site of injury in fast bowlers is the low back due to repetitively hyper extending
the trunk before releasing the ball. The lumbopelvic stability is reduced over a period of time as a result of
reduced mobility of thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) giving rise to chronic low back pain (cLBP). In addition to
conventional exercises, cupping therapy is also most widely used today as a complementary therapy for the
reduction of low back pain.The purpose of this study was to review the current available literature on effect
of dry cupping treatment in managing the cLBP. [Relevance] Information gained by this study would help in
finding out effectiveness of adding dry cupping to the treatment protocol of non specific cLBP. [Participants]
Eight full text articles were included for this review. [Methods] A literature search was performed using Google
Scholar with the term Cupping therapy, thoracolumbar fascia, low back pain and cricketers. The articles were
checked thoroughly and were reviewed. [Results] Significant increase in lumbar flexion ROM and decrease in
pain reduction was found in group receiving dry cupping treatment. [Conclusion] Dry cupping proved to be
beneficial in improving low back pain and can be used as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy management.
[Implications] Incorporating dry cupping in management of non specific cLBP would show better results than
conventional exercises alone for cases of cLBP in cricketers.