Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Basic Science

Background: Mechanical low back pain is a health problem affecting social and physical performance. Purpose: to investigate the effect of cupping therapy versus interferential cupping therapy on mechanical low back pain. Subjects: Sixty mechanical low back pain patients aged from 20-35years of both sexes, randomly divided into three groups, selected from Sohag University Neurosurgery Department. Methods: group (A) (study group): twenty patients received cupping therapy in addition to traditional physical therapy. Group (B) (study group): Twenty patients received cupping therapy and interferential cupping therapy (IFT) in addition to traditional physical therapy.Group (C) (control group): twenty patients received traditional physical therapy. The treatment was applied for four weeks, three sessions per week. Pain was measured by McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), disability was measured by the roland morris disability questionnaire and ROM was measured by goniometer before and after the treatment. Results: Statistical analysis using 3{u00D7}2 mixed design MANOVA indicated that were a statistically significant decrease in pain, disability in group (B) than other groups with p-value equal (P=0.0001*, 0.0001* and P=0.0001*) respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in ROMs in group (B) than other groups with p-value equal (P=0.0001*, 0.0001* and P=0.0001*) respectively. Conclusion: Both Cupping therapy and interferential cupping therapy (IFT) can improve pain, disability and ROM when used for treating mechanical low back pain. However, the improvement acquired by cupping therapy and interferential cupping therapy in addition to traditional physical therapy is more indicating that it can be a more effective choice for treating mechanical low back pain

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