Cupping therapy

Cupping therapy is a soft tissue treatment that uses cups placed on the skin to create suction. That suction gently lifts the tissue underneath to help ease tension and support more comfortable movement.

In rehabilitation settings, cupping is often used to help address muscle tension, tightness, soreness, and movement restriction. This is typically dry cupping or myofascial cupping, rather than wet cupping. 

Cupping therapy works by creating suction on the skin. This lifting effect may help ease tension in tight areas, support circulation in the treated area, and make movement feel more comfortable.

Depending on the treatment approach, the cups may stay in one place for a short period or be moved across the skin. Treatment is usually brief and targeted to the area being treated.

Your clinician will adjust the placement, amount of suction, and treatment time based on your comfort, symptoms, and care plan. 

People often seek cupping therapy for symptoms involving muscle tension, soreness, stiffness, or reduced mobility. 

It may be used to support care for concerns such as:

• Back pain
• Neck and shoulder tension
• Muscle tightness
• Sports- or exercise-related soreness
• Myofascial tightness
• Some tendon- or overuse-related symptoms
• Limited range of motion affecting day-to-day comfort 

Cupping therapy may be a good fit for people dealing with muscle tightness, soreness, stiffness, or movement restrictions that are affecting daily comfort, exercise, work, or activity.

It may also be used when soft tissue tension is making it harder to move comfortably or participate in other parts of care, such as stretching, mobility work, therapeutic exercise, or activity-based rehabilitation.

Your clinician will consider your symptoms, health history, skin sensitivity, treatment goals, and how tension or restricted movement is affecting your daily activities before recommending cupping therapy. 

Most people describe cupping therapy as a pulling, lifting, or tight sensation on the skin. Because the treatment uses suction, it can feel different from massage or other hands-on therapies that use pressure. 

Some areas may feel more intense than others, especially if the tissue is already tight or sensitive. Treatment should still feel manageable, and your clinician can adjust the intensity based on your comfort and the area being treated.

Cupping therapy may be used on its own or combined with other forms of care, depending on the clinic, provider, and treatment goals. It may be one part of a broader plan designed to ease symptoms, support mobility, and help you participate more comfortably in movement or exercise.

For example, cupping therapy may be used alongside education, therapeutic exercise, mobility work, manual therapy, stretching, or activity modification. This can help connect short-term symptom relief with longer-term goals, such as improving movement, building strength, or returning to daily activities.

Your clinician will recommend an approach based on your assessment, symptoms, and goals. 

Your first appointment may include a discussion about your symptoms, medical history, treatment goals, and any skin sensitivity or previous experience with cupping. 

Your clinician will explain how treatment works, what the cups may feel like, what to expect afterward, and how cupping therapy may fit into your overall plan. They will also let you know whether more than one session may be recommended.

It is common to notice temporary circular marks on the skin after cupping therapy. These marks are caused by the suction created during treatment and are usually not a sign of injury. 

Some people feel relief right away, while others notice changes over the next day or two. Mild soreness can also happen after treatment, depending on the area treated and how sensitive the tissue was to begin with. 

Your clinician will explain what to expect after your session and let you know if there is anything you should avoid or watch for.