Fig 1.
Typical examples of gray-scale ultrasound images before and after cupping therapy from a person.
The changes between pre-cupping (a & c) and post-cupping (b & d) are not easily described by visual examinations. (a) Ultrasound image of the triceps of the dominant side before applying cupping therapy at −225 mmHg for 5 min. (b) Post-cupping ultrasound image from the condition of (a). (c) Ultrasound image of the triceps of the dominant side before applying cupping therapy at −225 mmHg for 10 min. (d) Post-cupping ultrasound image from the condition of (c).
Fig 2.
Experimental setup during cupping therapy.
(a) The soft tissue over the triceps area is sucked into the cup during cupping therapy using an electronic cupping device. (b) The redness over the cupping area appears after cupping therapy.
Fig 3.
Normalized contrast texture of the triceps muscle (post-cupping / pre-cupping contrast).
(a) Contrast values of the whole layer. (b) Interaction effect between cupping pressure and duration on contrast values of the whole layer. (c) Contrast values of the superficial layer (d) Interaction effect between cupping pressure and duration on contrast values of the superficial layer. (e) Contrast values of the deep layer. (f) Interaction effect between cupping pressure and duration on contrast values of the deep layer. (* P < 0.05).
Fig 4.
Normalized correlation texture of the triceps muscle (post-cupping / pre-cupping correlation).
(a) Correlation values of the whole layer. (b) Interaction effect between cupping pressure and duration on correlation values of the whole layer. (c) Correlation values of the superficial layer. (d) Interaction effect between cupping pressure and duration on correlation values of the superficial layer. (e) Correlation values of the deep layer. (f) Interaction effect between cupping pressure and duration on correlation values of the deep layer. (* P < 0.05).
Table 1.
Statistical results of the two-way ANOVA with repeated measures on the interaction and main effects of the pressure and duration factors of cupping therapy.