Does Cupping Actually Work? Or Is It Just a Trend With Bruises?

The Truth About Cupping Therapy: Science, Myths, and Its Role in Modern Sports Rehab

You’ve probably seen the circular marks on athletes' backs and shoulders and wondered, "What does cupping really do?" or "Is it just another wellness fad?" Let’s break it down: what cupping is, how it works, and what the latest evidence says about its true benefits.

What Is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy is a form of negative pressure manual therapy where cups (typically glass, silicone, or plastic) are applied to the skin and suction is used to lift the underlying soft tissues. Unlike traditional massage, which compresses tissue, cupping creates decompression, drawing skin, fascia, and muscle layers upward.

There are various types of cupping:

Dry cupping (static or gliding): Cups are placed on the skin for a few minutes or moved over lubricated skin for a massage like effect.

Wet cupping (not performed at AVION): Involves minor skin incisions to draw blood, based on traditional Eastern medicine.

Pneumatic cupping (what we often use): Uses mechanical suction pumps for greater control of pressure.

Cupping creates a mechanical stretch of the skin and fascia, stimulates sensory receptors, and promotes changes in tissue mobility and pain perception all while increasing local circulation.

What Cupping Is Not: Busting the Myths

There’s a common misconception that cupping “pulls toxins out of the body.” While this narrative is popular in traditional and alternative medicine circles, it lacks scientific backing. The skin discoloration from cupping is not evidence of toxin removal but rather localized capillary rupture and increased blood flow.

Similarly, cupping doesn’t “break up knots” or scar tissue in the way people might think. The marks are not bruises—they are a result of the negative pressure drawing blood closer to the surface, similar to a hickey. These marks are usually painless and fade within a few days.

So, if it’s not detoxifying or physically breaking tissue down, what’s the benefit?

Neuromodulation and Decompression: The Real Benefits of Cupping

Just like IASTM and dry needling, the primary effect of cupping is neuromodulation changing how the brain and nervous system perceive pain, tension, and movement.

The negative pressure from cupping stimulates mechanoreceptors (sensory receptors that respond to mechanical stimuli) in the skin and fascia. These inputs alter afferent signaling to the brain and spinal cord, reducing the perceived threat of movement and pain.

Here’s what that looks like physiologically:

Increased blood flow improves local oxygenation, nutrient delivery, and waste removal from the muscle contraction process, potentially accelerating tissue recovery.

Fascial gliding improves as adhesions between tissue layers become more mobile under decompressive forces.

Pain is downregulated through both spinal

reflex inhibition and central pathways, altering nociceptive input (pain signaling) and reducing sensitivity.

Range of motion improves as perceived tightness and guarding decrease.

Lymphatic drainage may be enhanced due to the vacuum-like effect drawing interstitial fluid toward lymphatic channels.

The benefit isn’t in pulling something out it’s in creating a novel input that changes the way your brain experiences tension and pain.

What Does the Research Say?

A growing body of evidence supports cupping therapy as an adjunctive treatment for musculoskeletal pain. While more high quality studies are still needed, systematic reviews have shown short-term benefits in:

Reducing pain in conditions like low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder impingement

Improving mobility in stiff joints or soft tissue restrictions

Enhancing performance recovery in athletes by decreasing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

It’s important to understand that cupping is not a magic bullet. It works best when integrated into a comprehensive rehab program that includes movement retraining, manual therapy, and strength conditioning.

Why Athletes Use It

Active adults who lift, run, or golf often develop soft tissue overload, movement restrictions, or muscle soreness. Cupping can serve as an effective tool to:

Restore mobility in stiff areas (e.g., thoracic spine, calves, shoulders)

Improve muscle recovery post-training or competition

Reduce nervous system tension to facilitate better movement patterns

Address fascial tightness limiting performance on the course, track, or under the barbell

How We Use Cupping at AVION Sports Rehab

At AVION, cupping is not a passive experience. We combine functional cupping where clients move through ranges of motion while cups are applied with other treatments like dry needling, IASTM, and corrective exercise.

Cupping becomes more effective when integrated with movement. Our clinicians tailor each session based on your goals, sport, and presentation. Whether it’s a tight shoulder before a golf round, achy calves after a long run, or general fatigue from lifting, we use cupping as part of a bigger picture strategy to restore movement, reduce pain, and get you back to performing without limits.

Is Cupping Right For You?

If you’re dealing with nagging stiffness, chronic soreness, or just feel “stuck” in your movement, cupping may help. It's safe, non invasive, and often provides immediate relief especially when paired with expert guidance and active rehab.

Click here to book a session with our team and let us build a plan that helps you move without limits

References

1. Rozenfeld, E., Kalichman, L. (2015). "New is the well-forgotten old: the use of dry cupping in musculoskeletal medicine." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 20(1): 173-178.

2. Kim JI, Lee MS, Lee DH, Boddy K, Ernst E. (2011). "Cupping for treating pain: a systematic review." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

3. Cao, H., Han, M., Li, X., Dong, S., Shang, Y., Wang, Q., Xu, S., Liu, J. (2015). "Clinical research evidence of cupping therapy in China: a systematic literature review." BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 15: 126.