Baseline levels of pain intensity, measured at 5 6 (median, VRS-11) for maximal pain and at 5 for pain while in movement, are in accordance with previous investigations of the same design, which also described the pain-reducing clinical effect of QMS implementation.
The pain variable used was defined as the maximal pain reported at the eight muscle locations (trapezius, splenius, temporalis and frontalis muscles; left and right side) at each 10-min interval.
While increased hamstring extensibility was reported following passive stretch training programs [ 11, 12], maximal pain reported at the new end range of extensibility was not changed.
Widmann et al. (1999) found that maximal pain relief was achieved at an average of 6 months postoperatively, which is consistent with our experience.
Average pain at rest and maximal pain over the first and second 12 hour post-operative periods, will be computed using the VAPS.
Patients of the TG reported significant symptomatic improvement after cupping treatments: Pain at rest (PR), maximal pain related to movement (PM), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and bodily pain (SF-36) decreased after repeated cupping.
Postoperative pain was recorded every 30 minutes using a visual analogical scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain at all) to 10 (maximal pain).
Pain at rest (PR) and maximal pain related to movement (PM, provoked pain by neck flexion, neck extension, lateral neck flexion, and neck rotation in either direction) were recorded on a VAS graded from 0 (no pain at all) to 100 mm (worst pain imaginable).
Self-reported outcome measures before and after the cupping series included the following: Pain at rest (PR) and maximal pain related to movement (PM) on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS), pain diary (PD) data on a 0-10 numeratingting scale (NRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and health-related quality of life (SF-36).
