Maria Madalena Xavier Freitas, Emerson Levy Dutra de Almeida Filho, Ítalo Fonseca de Oliveira, Janaína de Oliveira Andrade, Emádia Bezerra Campelo, Yago Tavares Pinheiro, Leônidas de Oliveira Neto, Caio Alano de Almeida Lins

SUMMARY
Background. Running induces adaptive responses, such as muscle fatigue that alter muscle strength and power. Button cupping therapy has been applied in clinical prac­tice, under the theories that its application influences the microcirculation and the nervous system, however, there is a scarcity of studies that investigate its effects in athletes. In this context, this protocol aims to evaluate the effects of sliding cupping therapy on pain, perception of fatigue and muscle performance after a 10 km run, with the hypothesis that cupping will produce expected changes when it occurs to the other group.
Methods. This is a sham-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial, in which 64 volunteers will be randomly allocated into two groups of 32 participants: interven­tion group (sliding suction cup with gentle suction on the quadriceps) and sham group (sliding suction cup without compression on the quadriceps). The participants will be evaluated before the race, after the race, immediately, 24 h and 48 h after the inter­vention, through isokinetic dynamometry, vertical jump test, algometry, and scales of perception of pain and fatigue and perception of recovery. Statistical significance will be set at 5% and a 95% confidence interval (95%CI).
Conclusions. This sham-controlled, randomized and blinded clinical trial protocol may serve as a basis for further research, contributing with a scientific direction for the application of sliding cupping therapy after physical activity.
Study registration. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (identifier RBR-10fg77vk).

Keywords: athletes, fatigue, physical functional performance, recovery of physiological function, running; sliding cupping,