Alternative therapies in health and medicine最新文献

{"title":"Impact of Virtual Reality and Walking Meditation on Proprioception and Balance in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.","authors":"Prashansa Kulkarni, Aarti Welling, Peeyoosha Gurudut, Vijay Kage","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative disorder of the articular cartilage, affecting 28.7% of the population in India. Proprioception and balance deficits are common in individuals with knee OA, which can lead to falls and further joint damage. Full Immersion Virtual Reality (FIVR) provides simulated real-world experience with auditory, visual, and proprioceptive feedback. Walking meditation (WM) includes gentle physical activity like slow walking in combination with mindfulness practice.</p><p><strong>Primary study objective: </strong>To determine and compare the effectiveness of VR and WM in knee OA.</p><p><strong>Methods/design: </strong>A randomized clinical trial was conducted using simple random sampling for enrolling individuals diagnosed with knee OA.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>The source of data was a tertiary care hospital, Belagavi.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>The study included participants diagnosed with knee OA. The study had no dropouts and no reported adverse events.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>Thirty-two (n = 32) participants were included and randomly assigned into 2 groups. Group A received VR with conventional physiotherapy intervention, and Group B received WM with conventional physiotherapy intervention. Both groups received intervention 3 times/week for 4 weeks.</p><p><strong>Primary outcome measures: </strong>The measures assessed include knee proprioception angle at 300, 450, 600, balance using functional reach test (FRT), pain intensity (VAS), and functional abilities (WOMAC) on day 1 and day 28 of intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Within-group analysis demonstrated significant improvement in all the post-intervention measures (P = .0001). Between-group analysis of proprioception angle at 300 (P = .8318), 450 (P = .9761), 600 (P = .8393), FRT (P = .7885), VAS (P = .7609), and WOMAC (P = 1.0000) indicated no statistically significant difference between Group A and Group B.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study concludes that both VR and WM are effective in improving proprioception, balance, reducing pain intensity, and enhancing functional abilities in knee OA patients.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Osteoarthritis, Knee joint, Pain, Visual analog scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144793271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Internet + Combined with Continuous Nursing Care on Pain Degree and Quality of Life in Patients with Herpetic Neuralgia.","authors":"Xiaoli Guo, Yunzhong Sun, Ying Zhang, Li Zhang, Shuyu Ma, Yanan Duan, You Zhou","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore the effects of \"Internet+\" combined with continuous nursing care on pain intensity and quality of life in patients with herpetic neuralgia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This randomized controlled trial involved 102 herpetic neuralgia patients treated from July 2019 to August 2022. Patients were randomly assigned to a control group (routine nursing care, n=51) or a study group (\"Internet+\" continuous nursing care, n=51). The study group received internet+ nursing intervention that included symptom monitoring, medication management, and patient education. The researchers compared the two groups in terms of symptom resolution time, treatment duration, pain scores (VAS, NRS), self-efficacy (GSES), quality of life (QOL), and sleep quality (PSQI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The symptom resolution time (8.56 vs 6.18 days, P < .05) and treatment duration (12.74 vs 9.08 days, P < .05) were significantly shorter in the study group compared to the control group. The VAS (5.33 vs 3.98, P < .05) and NRS (6.18 vs 4.17, P < .05) pain scores were significantly lower in the study group at the end of the intervention. The GSES self-efficacy scores were significantly higher in the study group (29.19 vs 34.88, P < .05). The QOL scores were significantly improved in the study group at the end of the intervention (64.28 vs 78.41, P < .05). The PSQI sleep quality scores were significantly better in the study group (12.71vs 9.03, P < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The \"Internet+\" combined with continuous nursing care intervention had a significant positive impact on pain intensity, quality of life, self-efficacy, and sleep quality in patients with herpetic neuralgia. This integrated approach utilizing digital health technology and personalized nursing care is a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes for this patient population and should be further promoted in clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>internet+, continuing care, herpetic neuralgia, pain, quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Medicinal Properties of Erysimum cheiri L. (Tudri surkh) - Insights from Traditional Unani Medicine and Modern Phytochemical Analyses: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Hayder Ali Shah, Sabiha Khan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Plants provide us with significant therapeutic ingredients that serve as raw materials for both traditional and modern medicine. One such medication is Tudri surkh (Erysimum cheiri L), which can be used either alone or in compound pharmacopeial formulations. Tudri surkh is a perennial plant of the family Brassicaceae, originally a native of Europe.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review aims to explore the therapeutic uses and medicinal properties of Tudri surkh, based on research on phytochemicals and pharmacology as well as Unani medicine.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A thorough review of the literature was conducted using several search engines, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. To obtain as much information as possible about the Tudri surkh (Erysimum cheiri), other literary sources, such as Wikipedia, Unani literature, and ethnobotanical texts, were also examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Tudri surkh (Erysimum cheiri) has significant potential as a medicinal plant in the traditional health care system, particularly in treating inflammatory, infectious, and non-communicable diseases. Tudri surkh contains bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, glucosides (e.g., Erysimoside, Cheiroside A), flavonoids (e.g., Quercetin), and phenols, which contribute to its pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and chemopreventive effects. Studies demonstrate the ability of Tudri surkh seed extracts to scavenge free radicals, inhibit skin tumorigenesis, and reduce inflammation comparably to conventional drugs like diclofenac. Traditional uses include Muqawwi-e-Bah (aphrodisiac), Mu'alid-i-Sha'r (hair grower), Musakkin wa Mulattif (febrifuge and demulcent), Mukhrij wa Munaffith-i-Balgham (expectorant), Muqawwi-i-Mi'da (stomachic), Musammin-i-Badan (adipogenous), externally Muhallil (resolvent), Muqawwi-i-Dimagh (brain tonic). However, despite its historic applications, modern pharmacopoeias lack comprehensive monographs on Tudri Surkh (Erysimum cheiri).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Tudri surkh (Erysimum cheiri) holds significant therapeutic value in Unani medicine for treating inflammatory conditions and as a source of natural antioxidants. However, further research is needed to validate its mechanisms and integrate traditional knowledge with scientific evidence.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Erysimum, Medicinal plants, Narrative review, Phytochemicals, Unani medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144635881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Acute Effect of Suboccipital Release Technique on Trapezius Muscle Activation and Pain in Individuals with Anxiety.","authors":"Bahriye Baş, Sezen Tezcan, Tamer Çankaya","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional and observable response to stressful situations and can adversely affect many systems, including the musculoskeletal system. The study aims to determine the immediate effect of the suboccipital release technique on the trapezius muscle pain threshold, muscle activation, and anxiety level in individuals with anxiety.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-six participants with symptoms of anxiety and depression were included in this single-blind, randomized sham-controlled study, with 18 assigned to the control group and 18 to the acute intervention group. Anxiety levels, bilateral upper trapezius muscle pain thresholds, and muscle activation were assessed. The experimental group received a single session of the suboccipital release technique, while the control group received a sham suboccipital release. Evaluations were conducted before and immediately after the intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of the experimental group was 21.66 ± 2.40 years, and the mean age of the control group was 22.00 ± 2.08 years. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline demographics or most scores before acute intervention (P > .05), except for cranial rhythmic impulse (P = .000) and surface electromyography right eccentric % maximum voluntary contraction (P = .043). There were also no significant between-group differences in score changes for any outcome measures (all P > .05), except for post-acute intervention cranial rhythmic impulse values (P = .003), favoring the experimental group. Within-group analyses showed significant improvements in trapezius pain thresholds and surface electromyography right concentric % maximum voluntary contraction in both groups (P < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that suboccipital release technique can increase the upper trapezius muscle pain threshold and concentric muscle activation after acute intervention in individuals with anxiety. This technique may be considered a potential approach to reduce the pain of individuals who have pain problems in the upper part of the trapezius muscle due to anxiety.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Anxiety, Trapezius muscle, Muscle Activation, Pain, Surface Electromyography.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144635883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Cancer Patients' Attitudes Toward Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Factors Influencing These Attitudes.","authors":"İpek Aycil, Anita Karaca","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cancer patients turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage the adverse effects of chemotherapy and to maintain physical and mental well-being.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of cancer patients toward holistic CAM and the factors influencing these attitudes.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>The study was conducted at a university hospital in Turkey.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>The study included 147 patients who visited the hematology clinic of a university hospital between July and October 2021.</p><p><strong>Primary outcome measure: </strong>A patient information form and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire were used to collect data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most patients were male (52.4%), married (72.1%), and had completed primary and secondary education (53.7%). Overall, 48.3% had been diagnosed less than one year previously as having cancer, and 89.8% received chemotherapy. More than half (60.5%) used CAM, and the most frequently used methods were animal products (15.6%) and herbal products (15%). The mean score for the questionnaire scale and the mean scores of the complementary and alternative medicine and holistic health subscales were 32.59 ± 5.50, 24.06 ± 4.87, and 8.53 ± 3.11, respectively. Statistically significant differences were identified between the total score of the scale and gender (P < .01), age (P < .05), and marital status (P < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cancer patients displayed a positive attitude toward holistic CAM. Female, single, and younger patients were more likely to use CAMs.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>alternative medicine, cancer, complementary medicine, nurses.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144635977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ayurvedic Management of Rare Genetic Condition-Huntington's Chorea: A Case Report.","authors":"Mahesh Sharma, Sourabh Deshmukh, Trupti Thakre, Rohit Waskar, Nitika Senger","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Huntington's Chorea is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances. It is caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in the HTT gene, leading to an abnormal expansion of CAG repeats. The disease typically manifests in mid-adulthood and gradually worsens over time. The progressive nature of the disease leads to motor, cognitive, and psychiatric impairments, significantly affecting the quality of life.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to highlight the progressive nature of Huntington's disease, its impact on motor and cognitive functions, and the role of symptomatic management in improving the patient's quality of life through Ayurveda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 40-year-old male presented with involuntary movement in the upper and lower extremities, difficulty in doing daily routine work, anxiety, difficulty in walking, and sleeplessness for a year. A thorough Huntington's disease mutation analysis was conducted to confirm the diagnosis. The patient was treated with Ayurvedic shodana (Bio-purification), Sarvanga Snehan with Prasarini Taila, followed by Shashtik Shali Pinda Swedan, Nasya with Shadbindu Taila, Shiropichu with Brahmi Taila, Sarvang Dhara with dashmoola kwath, Erandmooladi niruh basti, and shamana (palliative) chikitsa (treatment), Zandopa powder, Balasaireyakadi Kashaya, Kalyanak ghrit, and capsule palsineuron orally for 4 months.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Ayurvedic management promoted substantial improvements in behavioral health, neuromotor function, and activities of daily living as assessed by the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) Sydenham's Chorea Rating Scale (USCRS).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The patient's clinical presentation and diagnostic findings were consistent with Huntington's Chorea.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Huntington's Chorea is a debilitating condition with no definitive cure. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary management approach can help alleviate symptoms and improve patient well-being. Genetic counseling plays a crucial role in managing the familial impact of the disease.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>HTT gene, Genetic Counseling, CAG Repeat Expansion, Huntington's Chorea, Motor Dysfunction, Ayurvedic Medicine, Case Report.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144635978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation and Treatment of Post-Encephalitis Cognitive Communication Disorder: A Case Report.","authors":"Mümüne Merve Parlak, Cansu Yıldırım","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Encephalitis is a group of inflammatory brain diseases caused by infectious or autoimmune processes. The predominant symptoms at the onset or during encephalitis are cognitive and behavioral changes, emotional dysregulation, and reduced self-awareness. When any cognitive function is affected, communication skill also gets affected, and this condition is referred to as cognitive communication disorder. There are few studies in the literature describing cognitive communication disorders after encephalitis. However, to our knowledge, there is no study that provides treatment for cognitive communication disorder or evaluates its effect and prognosis.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>This case report details the hospitalization of a 13-year-old boy who had a seizure after complaints of headache and fever, the diagnostic process of encephalitis, the cognitive communication disorder assessment, and the evaluation of therapy process outcomes. Day 1, Week 1, and Month 1 assessments of the case were made to evaluate cognitive communication disorder.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>After therapy, a gradual improvement was observed in the case's language skills, such as naming, reading, writing, and non-linguistic cognitive skills, such as semantic association, attention, calculation, and memory.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This report emphasizes the importance of early and comprehensive cognitive communication therapy to facilitate recovery from encephalitis. It also suggests that there may be a strong link between non-linguistic cognitive domains and language functioning.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":"116-120"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143603192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Andie Crosby, Calroy and Kiran Krishnan, Microbiome Labs Introducing Cartigenix HP for Pain Management.","authors":"Andie Crosby, Kiran Krishnan, Sheldon Baker","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":"31 4","pages":"6-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144265081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A New Biopsychosocial Questionnaire in Individuals with Chronic Neck Pain: A Psychometric Study.","authors":"Ozge Şahin, Sevim Oksüz, Ender Angın, Edibe Ünal","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is crucial to assess the extent of biopsychosocial involvement and consider how treatment affects it as the first step in providing care for individuals with neck pain.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to assess the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of a Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach (BETY)-Biopsychosocial Questionnaire (BQ) in chronic neck pain.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH), the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used for the validity analysis. For testing reliability, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient were checked. For responsiveness, all scales were reapplied to individuals who were included in a 2-week physiotherapy intervention.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department of the General Hospital, Cyprus.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>One hundred ninety-nine individuals with chronic neck pain were included in the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Pearson's correlations between the BETY-Biopsychosocial Questionnaire and the NDI, DASH, HADS-Anxiety, and HADS-Depression scores were found to be moderate to high (r=0.64, P < .001; r=0.74, P < .001; r=0.64, P < .001; r=0.58, P < .001, respectively). A moderate to high negative correlation was identified between BETY-BQ and SF-36 (r=-0.45 to r=-0.68, P < .001). ICC values were found to be excellent (r=0.993, P < .001). The Cronbach's alpha value showed excellent internal consistency (0.997). There was a good agreement between the pre- and post-test BETY-BQ forms. The calculated effect size for the pre- and post-treatment clinical evaluations was moderate (0.5), and the standardized response mean was found to be large (2.1), indicating that BETY-BQ was responsive to change.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The BETY-Biopsychosocial Questionnaire was found to be reliable, valid, and sensitive to change in individuals with chronic neck pain. This study proposes a practical, easily accessible, low-cost, multi-dimensional, and self-reported biopsychosocial questionnaire for healthcare professionals to holistically evaluate individuals with chronic neck pain using a single form.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>chronic pain, disability, physiotherapy, exercise, neck pain, BETY-BQ.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144257114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cupping Therapy for Pain Management and Improving the Quality of Life in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Report.","authors":"Hayder Ali Shah, Ajay Kumar Tikoo, Sabiha Khan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>As one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases, osteoarthritis, causes pain, deterioration in functioning, and reduction in quality of life. The condition that is thought to contribute most to disability worldwide is knee osteoarthritis. Existing pharmacological treatments for osteoarthritis raise safety concerns. In Unani medicine, several non-pharmacological regimens known as Ilāj bi'l Tadbīr (Regimenal therapies) are advised in the management of painful musculoskeletal disorders. Among all these practices, dry cupping (Hijāmah bilā Shart) is unique and recommended as one of the most effective methods for knee osteoarthritis pain management in the majority of classical Unani literature. This report presents a case of knee osteoarthritis treated using cupping therapy.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 57-year-old female patient presented with a 3-year-long history of right knee pain, stiffness, and difficulty in daily activities. The patient was examined clinically before intervention and was diagnosed with right knee osteoarthritis which was further supported by radiological investigations. Cupping therapy was administered over the affected knee joint for 4 weeks. A total of 10 sittings were carried out every 2 days. The patient's symptoms gradually ameliorated, ultimately becoming minimal following the 4-week treatment period. Specifically, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score decreased from 8 to 2, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score for stiffness and functional ability improved with a decrease from 50 to 25, and the quality of life score measured by 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) improved from 35 to 75.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our case study established cupping therapy's effectiveness as a secure, non-invasive treatment option and opened new possibilities for its application in the management of knee osteoarthritis. However, further research is imperative to establish the efficacy and effectiveness of cupping therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":7571,"journal":{"name":"Alternative therapies in health and medicine","volume":" ","pages":"57-61"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143121701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}