🌿 Cupping Therapy Explained: How It Works and Who It Helps
Cupping therapy might look unusual at first glance, with its distinctive circular marks often spotted on the backs of athletes, but this treatment has been used for centuries across many cultures. Today, cupping is becoming increasingly popular in physiotherapy, sports recovery, and wellbeing clinics.
As a physiotherapist, I use cupping as part of a holistic approach to help clients with pain, muscle tightness, and recovery. But how does cupping actually work, and who can it benefit? Let’s explore the science behind it.
1. What Is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. Traditionally, this was done with heated glass cups, but today most practitioners use modern plastic or silicone cups with a hand pump to safely control the level of suction.
The suction gently lifts the skin and underlying tissues, drawing blood into the area and creating the round marks cupping is known for. These marks aren’t bruises in the usual sense — they’re the result of increased blood flow and usually fade within a week.
There are two main types of cupping:
Dry cupping: Cups are applied with suction and left in place or moved along muscles.
Wet cupping (Hijama): Involves small incisions in the skin before cupping; this is less common in physiotherapy/Western practice and requires specialist training.
2. How Does Cupping Work?
Modern science suggests several mechanisms explain cupping’s effects:
🔹 Improved Circulation
The suction draws fresh, oxygen-rich blood into the area, which helps to nourish tissues and accelerate healing.
🔹 Muscle & Fascia Release
By lifting skin and fascia, cupping creates space in tight tissues, reducing stiffness and improving mobility. This is particularly useful in areas like the back, shoulders, and legs.
🔹 Nervous System Effects
Cupping stimulates sensory nerves in the skin, which may “reset” pain signals and activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the body’s relaxation response. This explains why many patients feel calm or even sleepy during treatment.
🔹 Immune & Anti-Inflammatory Response
Research shows cupping can influence immune activity, lowering pro-inflammatory markers and promoting tissue repair.
👉 A review in Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Al-Bedah et al., 2016) concluded that cupping improves microcirculation, modulates inflammation, and enhances the body’s natural healing processes.
3. Who Can Cupping Help?
Cupping is versatile and can be useful for a range of people:
✅ People with Chronic Pain
Back and neck pain are among the most common reasons people try cupping. By loosening tight muscles and improving blood flow, cupping often brings relief where stretching or massage alone hasn’t fully worked.
👉 A study in the Journal of Pain (Teut et al., 2012) found that patients with chronic neck pain experienced significant reductions in both pain and stiffness after a course of cupping therapy.
✅ Athletes and Active Individuals
From footballers to gym enthusiasts, athletes use cupping to recover faster and keep muscles loose. It helps reduce post-exercise soreness and can complement sports massage.
👉 Research in PLOS ONE (Markowski et al., 2014) showed that athletes reported less muscle soreness and better range of motion after cupping treatments.
✅ People with Arthritis or Joint Stiffness
Cupping can reduce inflammation and stiffness in arthritic joints, making movement easier. While it’s not a cure, it can be a helpful part of pain management.
✅ People Under Stress
The relaxing effect of cupping makes it a good choice for clients dealing with stress, tension, and poor sleep. Many report feeling lighter and calmer after a session.
✅ Those Seeking General Wellbeing
Even people without pain sometimes use cupping as part of a wellness routine to improve circulation and support relaxation.
4. What to Expect in a Cupping Session
A typical cupping session is simple and comfortable:
The therapist assesses your condition and decides on placement.
Cups are applied with gentle suction — this can feel like a pulling or stretching sensation.
Cups may stay in place (static cupping) for 5–15 minutes, or be moved across the skin with oil or cream (sliding cupping).
After removal, you’ll see round marks that fade in a few days. Most people feel relaxed, looser, and less stiff afterwards.
5. Is Cupping Safe?
Cupping is very safe when performed by a trained practitioner. The most common side effect is temporary marks on the skin, which are painless and harmless.
Cupping should be avoided if you have:
Open wounds or skin infections
Bleeding disorders or are on blood thinners
Severe varicose veins in the treatment area
Otherwise, it’s a safe therapy that can be repeated weekly or as needed.
🌟 Key Takeaway
Cupping therapy may look unusual, but its effects are grounded in clear physiological changes: improved circulation, muscle release, reduced inflammation, and nervous system regulation.
From athletes looking to recover faster, to people living with chronic pain or stress, cupping offers a safe, effective way to support recovery and wellbeing.
📞 Interested in experiencing cupping therapy? Contact JN Physiotherapy today to book your session.
📚 References
Al-Bedah AM, et al. (2016). The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 24(1): 1–6.
Teut M, et al. (2012). Pulsatile dry cupping in chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pain, 13(11): 1190–1197.
Markowski A, et al. (2014). The effect of cupping therapy on pain, function, and quality of life in athletes: a randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE.