CuppingThe Effect of Cupping on Spasticity and Function of the Lower Extremity During Rehabilitation After Stroke

This group (arm) will receive the dry static cupping intervention, along with the standard physical therapy treatment.

This group (arm) will receive a placebo-form of cupping (low, and non-therapeutic pressure amount in the cups), along with the standard physical therapy treatment.

A myofascial decompression cupping set with a precision pressure pump will be used to perform dry static cupping to the adductor and hamstring muscle groups of the affected limb, using a negative pressure of 300mmHg for eight minutes each.

The same protocol will be used as stated for the Dry static cupping intervention, with the only difference being that the cup will be pumped to 50mmHg instead of 300mmHg.

Treatment will consist of typical physical therapy interventions performed for patients with spasticity of the lower extremity after stroke. These may include, but not be limited to:

• Balance exercise
• Therapeutic exercise
• Neuromuscular/muscular coordination exercise
• Manual (hands on) therapy
• Gait training

The treating physical therapist is left with the autonomy of the standard physical therapy treatment (within the above stated groups of interventions) because patients with the diagnosis of stroke do not all present with the same type or level of impairment. Furthermore co-morbidities (e.g., hypertension) and/or functional level (wheelchair bound vs. independent ambulator) may necessitate different treatment strategies. Therefore, while the general categories of treatment will remain the same across all study patients, it is expected that the treating physical therapist provides patient-specific interventions.