Why Cupping Isn’t Just for Olympians

If you watched the Olympics a few years ago, you might remember seeing athletes – like Michael Phelps – covered in mysterious round marks on their backs and shoulders. That’s cupping therapy, an ancient treatment that’s now found its way into modern sports medicine clinics (including ours). But what exactly is cupping, and does it really work?

What Is Cupping?

Cupping is a technique that uses suction to lift the skin and underlying tissue. Traditionally, glass or silicone cups are placed on the skin and either heated or pumped to create a vacuum effect. This gentle suction draws blood to the surface, increasing local circulation and stimulating the body’s natural healing process.

There are two main types:

• Dry cupping – cups are placed and left for a few minutes without breaking the skin.

   

• Wet cupping – involves small skin incisions (not used in physiotherapy clinics).

   

At Motion Health, we use dry cupping as part of an evidence-informed physiotherapy plan – often to reduce muscle tightness, improve mobility, and enhance recovery after exercise.

What Does the Science Say?

The research on cupping has grown rapidly over the last decade. While more high-quality studies are still needed, evidence suggests it can provide short-term benefits for certain conditions, particularly musculoskeletal pain.

Studies and reviews have found that cupping may help with:

• Neck pain and headaches
• Chronic back pain
• Cancer-related pain

   

How it works isn’t completely clear, but theories suggest that the suction helps increase local blood circulation, reduce muscle stiffness, and trigger the body’s pain-modulating systems. Think of it as a gentle “reset” for irritated or overworked tissues.

What Does It Feel Like?

Most people describe cupping as a mild pulling sensation – strange at first, but surprisingly relaxing. The round marks that appear afterward are not bruises but temporary discolorations from increased blood flow under the skin. They usually fade within a few days.

If done properly by a trained professional, cupping is safe and rarely causes side effects beyond mild redness or tenderness.

Should You Try It?

Cupping isn’t just for elite athletes – it’s for anyone dealing with tight muscles, post-exercise soreness, or nagging pain that doesn’t seem to go away. It’s often used alongside other physiotherapy treatments such as massage, dry needling, and exercise rehab to help speed up recovery.

It’s not a magic fix, but for many people, it’s an effective way to release tension, improve flexibility, and feel better faster.

The Bottom Line

Cupping is a simple, low-risk therapy that can make a real difference – whether you’re training for competition or just trying to move pain-free.

👉 Book an appointment at Motion Health today to chat with one of our physiotherapists and find out if cupping could help you recover better and perform your best.

References

Kim, J. I., Lee, M. S., Lee, D. H., Boddy, K., & Ernst, E. (2011). Cupping for treating pain: A systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011, 467014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/467014

Kim, S., Lee, S. H., Kim, M. R., Kim, E. J., Hwang, D. S., Lee, J., Shin, J. S., Ha, I. H., & Lee, Y. J. (2018). Is cupping therapy effective in patients with neck pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 8, e021070. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021070

Moura, C. C. de C., Chaves, É. C. L., Cardoso, A. C. L. R., Nogueira, D. A., Corrêa, H. P., & Chianca, T. C. M. (2018). Cupping therapy and chronic back pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 26, e3094. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2888.3094