Relief for chronic pain, muscle tension, and restricted movement.
At Cutting Edge Physical Therapy, cupping may be incorporated into an individualized plan to help promote relaxation, enhance blood flow, ease inflammation, and support your return to the activities that matter to you.
While cupping has grown in popularity in recent years, it is not a new practice. It was originally used by ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern cultures. Cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine performed by placing cups on the skin to create suction.
Our Salt Lake City physical therapists use rubber or silicone cups on the skin. The cups create a vacuum that causes the skin to rise and blood vessels to enlarge. This may help relieve pain and induce relaxation while promoting increased blood flow to reduce inflammation.
Cupping can be applied to areas of tension and points of high irritability, often called trigger points. Trigger points are thought to trigger local and referred pain and are often associated with trauma or overuse.
Cups are placed directly over areas of pain or tension. Suction may be created with a pump, and cups may be left in place for several minutes or moved across the skin.
As cups glide across the body, they lift and separate tissue interfaces between neural tissue, fascia, skin, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
Increased local blood flow is associated with increased nitric oxide, which is linked with muscle relaxation and less tension and pain.
Cupping works to relax muscles, release trigger points, improve lymphatic flow, increase local circulation, and release scar tissue adhesion. The exact mechanism of pain control is still being researched. One leading explanation is Gate Control Theory: a non-painful input may close nerve “gates,” blocking pain signals.
Evidence supports cupping as an effective treatment method for several conditions, including chronic neck pain, low back pain, and fibromyalgia.
Your therapist will determine whether cupping is appropriate for your symptoms and goals, and may combine it with other hands-on care and exercise strategies in your treatment plan.
Cupping is a common practice among athletes, including several athletes from the 2016 Rio Olympics. At Cutting Edge Physical Therapy, treatment is never one-size-fits-all. We assess your pain, movement, activity demands, and goals before recommending a plan.
One running patient with more than a year of iliotibial band pain reported instant relief after a three-minute cupping session. After the technique was repeated a week later, the patient was symptom-free and returned to their usual running routine following only two cupping sessions.
Whether your pain is associated with overuse, exercise, daily activities, or lingering tension, our therapists can help determine if cupping therapy may be a helpful part of your recovery.
Tired of living with persistent pain and looking for an edge in your recovery? Speak with a Cutting Edge Physical Therapy clinician to determine whether cupping therapy is right for you.