• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-17
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of moving cupping therapy on the edema of paretic hand in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects were stroke patients with flaccid hemiplegia. Each subject's routine therapy program was maintained throughout single subject ABAB design. During the first week, baseline data were gathered. During the second and fourth week, intervention was provided(total 20minutes of moving cupping therapy, from contralateral to ipsilateral, distal to proximal). During third and fifth week, data were gathered with treatment withdrawn. Edema was measured with hand volumeter and measuring tape. Basically Bayesian analysis was performed using WinBUGS(ver. 1.4), for addition, visual graph and mean score were also presented for comparison between treatment(moving cupping therapy) and non-treatment. Results : The visual graph and mean score showed decrease in edema during the treatment weeks. Overall decrease in edema by moving cupping therapy was verified significantly by using Bayesian ana-lysis(95% credibility intervals). Conclusions : This study suggests that moving cupping therapy could be applicable for reducing post-stroke hand edema. Further research would be needed to establish guidelines for use.