Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine that we offer as a complement to our manual therapies. You might have seen athletes or celebrities with circular “cupping marks” on their backs – that’s from this therapy! Cupping involves placing special cups on the skin and creating a vacuum suction inside them. This suction gently pulls the skin and underlying tissue upward into the cup. It might sound strange, but it can feel like a deep tissue massage in reverse (instead of pressing down on muscles, we’re pulling them up).
How does cupping help?
The suction increases local blood flow and can stimulate healing in that area. It’s known to help loosen tight muscle tissue, encourage lymphatic drainage (which helps remove toxins), and reduce inflammation. Many patients report that cupping gives them relief from muscle knots and a sense of relaxation. Conditions that can benefit from cupping include back and neck pain, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatic pains, and more. It’s often used alongside massage or acupuncture for added benefit
In our clinic, we typically use silicone or plastic cups (no fire required, unlike traditional fire-cupping). The therapist may place a few cups on problem areas – common spots are the back, shoulders, or wherever you have muscle tension. Cups are left in place for several minutes, or the therapist might glide them around for a technique called “moving cupping.” You’ll feel a pulling sensation, but it shouldn’t be painful; we adjust the suction to your comfort level. After cupping, you will likely have red or purple circular marks on the skin where the cups were – these are not bruises from trauma, but rather indications of blood flow and will fade in a few days.
We often combine cupping with a massage therapy session (for example, massaging an area, then cupping it, then massaging again) to maximize the tissue release. Cupping can also be a stand-alone 30 or 45-minute session focusing on specific issues.
