Cupping Therapy

Cupping as local fascial traction: stretching skin and deep fascia layers

Cupping provides additional local traction that stretches skin, superficial fascia, and retinacular cutis, and can even grip into deep fascia to create force transfer between tissue layers.

"you know cupping cupping is is an additional uh local traction that really stretches um skin superficial fascia all the retinacular cutis and then can even grip into deep fascia and create a force"

Cupping likely works through neurosensory modulation rather than tissue changes

The physical therapist hosts argue that the most plausible mechanism for cupping's effects is neurosensory modulation rather than tissue-level changes like angiogenesis. By modifying sensory input and reducing pain perception, cupping may improve performance by removing inhibitory pain responses.

"I really don't look at all that stuff and think, yeah, that's probably what's going on. I think, yeah, there's obviously an acute increase to blood flow to the area. But for me, where there might be some decent literature on the effects of cupping have to do with the nervous system."

Dynamic cupping combined with movement for low back pain

Brandon describes his go-to clinical approach of combining cups with progressive movement: starting in quadruped with cat-cow, progressing to rocking, then standing toe touches or Jefferson curls. The test-retest approach typically shows improved movement and reduced pain.

"And then after doing that for a little while, I actually, I guess, go back to static and get the patient up off the table. And usually, you know, classic example here is, this is one of my go-tos, is I have a patient who has mechanical low back pain, or maybe they are hypomobile in the lumbar spine. They're lacking flexion as compared to the rest of the spine. I'll put their cups on. I usually start them out quadruped, do a little bit of a stretch, and then I'll go back to static."

Cupping bruises are painless hickeys and 10 minutes is the cutoff

Brandon explains that 10 minutes is the general cutoff for leaving cups on, as bruising tends to occur beyond that point. He clarifies that cupping bruises are essentially painless hickeys and that bruising is not necessary for an effective treatment.

"generally 10 minutes is kind of the cutoff. And the reason for that is because it seems to be around that 10 minute mark for most people, they're going to get some kind of bruising. And, and,"

Cupping as a vacuum for the body that clears cellulite and stagnation

Shannon Gilmartin explains that cupping works like a vacuum for the body, helping move lymphatic fluids, clear cellulite and edema, and increase circulation. She emphasizes that the applications are limitless depending on technique.

"It also helps to move fluids like lymphatic fluids, like stagnation of that, which could be like cellulite or people with edema. And it helps to ultimately clear out body tissues. Think about it as a vacuum for your body. And depending on how you alter its applications, it's limitless what you can do with cups."

Using cupping for scar tissue reduction after a car accident

Shannon describes how she first discovered cupping's power when she used it to reduce scar tissue from a serious car accident on her face, eventually leading her to become an international cupping educator for nearly 13 years.

"I found a class on cups randomly in Las Vegas, and who doesn't want to go to Las Vegas and learn some fun things? When I did take the course, I had some pretty incredible reactions within my own body. And to note, when I was younger, I had a pretty bad car accident, and I had a very large scar on my face. And leaving that class, I was able to go home and really feel"

Cups along the spine calm the central nervous system

Shannon explains that placing cups along the spine creates a decompression feedback into the central nervous system that calms the body. She emphasizes cupping should never be painful and describes the warming, relaxing sensations patients report.

"is if you line cups along the spine, all the central nervous system enters the body via the spine and all those muscles, that decompression happens."

Cupping therapy for improving range of motion in the neck

Cayle explains how cupping therapy helps improve range of motion by loosening adhesions and trigger points, using the common example of waking up with a stiff neck that cupping can quickly relieve.

"Um, a couple of things of what it does. So it helps with range of motion. So range of motions in several different ways, but just say you have a kink in your neck, like you wake up and you have a kink in your neck and you can't turn your neck. Cause you're like, ow, this is as far as I can turn my neck. I can't like look over here. Right. Um, cupping therapy is amazing for that because it will actually help to, um,"

What cupping marks look like and how long they last

Cayle demonstrates what happens after cupping, explaining that marks can range from a red ring to purple or blue depending on blood flow and tissue tension. Marks typically last one to four days and are a normal part of the treatment.

"suction, if you will. And then, so this might not be a good example because I obviously didn't really need it there, but okay. So if you see, like, I just have like a red ring there where the cup was. So this can turn like purple or blue, um, sometimes not all the times. So if you really have a reduced blood supply there or like reduced blood flow in that area,"

Cupping is not painful - feels like a gentle pinch

Cayle demonstrates cupping on herself and reassures listeners that it does not hurt, describing the sensation as similar to a gentle pinch. She also notes contraindications including new injuries, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

"See, so this does not hurt. I mean, this maybe feels like somebody's like gently pinching you, but it doesn't, it's not painful. It doesn't hurt."

Cupping is the only negative-pressure bodywork modality

Danielle explains that cupping is unique among bodywork modalities because it uses negative pressure to lift tissue away from the skeleton, unlike massage which pushes into it. This breaks up scar tissue and adhesions, pulls fresh oxygenated blood through muscles, and increases circulation.

"So copying is the only type of body work that is a negative pressure on the body, as opposed to, you know, like massage or any other. Form of body work really that you get, it's a positive pressure, right? You're pushing into the skeleton. So with copying, what you're doing is you're creating a vacuum and you're pulling the tissue up and away from the skeleton."

A 15-minute cupping session feels like a 45-minute massage

Danielle describes cupping's efficiency for pain relief, noting that a short 15-minute cupping session can feel as effective as a 45-minute massage, making it a time-efficient treatment option.

"It's really, really great for pain intention. It's really great to like ease pain intention. So what's nice about cupping is you really only need 15 minutes. So if you get a short 15 minute session, it feels like you got a 45 minute massage or something like that. It's that effective."