Evaluation of the Optimal Duration of Thumb Cupping Therapy for Frozen Shoulder by Thermal Metabolic Imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the optimal duration of thumb cupping therapy for frozen shoulder (FS) by thermal metabolic imaging (TMI) and to provide clinical evidence.

METHODS: From April 2022 to August 2023, 120 patients with FS who received thumb cupping therapy at our hospital were randomized into groups A, B, and C for 5, 10, and 15 minutes of cupping, respectively. The clinical efficacy, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, and shoulder range of motion (ROM) of the three groups were compared, and the skin blood flow and the incidence of adverse reactions during treatment were analyzed. Finally, the temperature difference improvement efficiency (i.e., higher TMI after treatment than before treatment) was compared among the three groups.

RESULTS: Groups B and C showed higher overall clinical efficacy than group A (P < .05). After treatment, lower VAS scores were determined in groups B and C compared with group A, whereas the ROM values of groups A and C were smaller than those of group B Group C had the greatest skin blood flow and the highest incidence of adverse reactions (P < .05), while group B had the highest temperature difference improvement efficiency (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Through TMI, it is confirmed that thumb cupping therapy with a duration of 10 min contributes to the highest efficacy and safety for patients with FS.