SynthesisBMJ open2025
Effects of cupping therapy on chronic musculoskeletal pain and collateral problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Effect of Comprehensive and Integrative Medical Services on Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Controlled Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Trial
- Prescribing trends and clinical impact of calcium salt supplements in musculoskeletal pain: evidence from a multi-center retrospective analysis in India (TRACE study).BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Observational
- Myofascial release and fascial-targeted mechanical interventions in musculoskeletal rehabilitation: mechanisms, modalities, and integrative physiology.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Review
- Clinical study on the therapeutic effect of large-area cupping therapy for lumbar disc herniation of cold-damp type (a Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome).Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesChronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a prevalent and distressing condition. Cupping therapy, one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicines, has been widely used to reduce CMP. But the evidence remains controversial on the effect of cupping therapy on CMP. The objective of this review and meta-analysis is to assess the effectiveness of cupping therapy in patients with CMP.
designSystematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane Library and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched through 20 December 2024. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: We included randomised control trials that compared cupping therapy for patients with CMP on outcomes (ie, pain intensity, functional disability and mental health). DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration and Evidence Project tools. Meta-analysis was conducted using random and fixed effects models. Findings were summarised in GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evidence profiles.
resultsThe results showed that cupping therapy (standardised mean difference (SMD)=-1.17; 95% CI=-1.93 to -0.42; p=0.002; I
conclusionsThis study indicates that cupping therapy may be efficient in alleviating pain intensity in patients with CMP with immediate effects. But it cannot improve functional disability and mental health significantly. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023406219.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.