Combined Cupping and Acupuncture Therapy for Dorsocervical Fat Pad: A Series of Case Studies.

backgroundIn recent years, with the increasing prevalence of cervical spondylosis, neck-shoulder syndrome, and scapulohumeral periarthritis, dorsocervical fat pad (DCFP) has become more commonly observed and is no longer considered exclusively a rare disease entity. Consequently, there is a growing need for safer, more effective, and minimally invasive therapeutic strategies to manage the rising number of patients presenting with DCFP.

methodsA total of 42 patients diagnosed with DCFP in our hospital between December 2023 and January 2025 were enrolled in this study. The cohort comprised 23 male and 19 female patients, with a mean age of 37.69 years, a mean height of 164.42 cm, and a mean body weight of 58.64 kg. Among these patients, 17 had a history of hypertension, four had diabetes mellitus, 27 were diagnosed with neck-shoulder myofascial pain syndrome, and 31 presented with cervical spondylosis. Following four sessions of combined cupping and acupuncture therapy, therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by assessing changes in DCFP volume, head-and-neck range of motion, neck disability index (NDI) scores, body mass index, and the occurrence of adverse reactions

resultsAfter four treatment sessions, significant overall differences were observed in DCFP length, width, and thickness across the three time points (P < 0.001), with the most pronounced improvement noted in thickness. Additionally, NDI scores decreased significantly compared to baseline (P < 0.001). Following treatment, flexion range of motion (FF-ROM), extension range of motion (E-ROM), left lateral flexion range of motion (LLF-ROM), and right lateral flexion range of motion (RLF-ROM), all showed significant increases relative to pretreatment values (all P < 0.001). No significant change in BMI was detected before and after treatment (P = 0.598).

conclusionsThe combination of acupuncture and cupping therapy demonstrates significant efficacy in reducing the volume parameters of DCFP, particularly in decreasing thickness. Furthermore, this therapeutic approach improves head-and-neck range of motion and enhances cervical function and esthetic appearance in affected patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .