Cupping therapy is a practice which promotes circulation, relieves muscle tension, and supports overall wellbeing. At Canterbury Health Hub (CHH), cupping is often used alongside other hands-on therapies like Myotherapy or Remedial Massage to enhance results and relieve musculoskeletal discomfort.
Whether you're recovering from intense exercise, managing chronic tension, or just looking to try a natural therapy that supports your body's healing, cupping might be the gentle but powerful treatment you need.
Does cupping even work?
- A review of existing evidence was completed in 2024 which found that cupping therapy significantly improved symptoms for people suffering from chronic lower back pain. There are also a number of studies that have found cupping to be effective in both reducing pain and improving function. As with all research, more evidence is required to further support the therapy however, there is enough data to justify using it to treat your pain. Many people find that they enjoy the way it feels when the cups are on and they find that it, along with the other techniques that we do improves their symptoms effectively.
Areas of the body
- Cupping can be done on any part of the body and for a variety of conditions. Whether it be neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, knee or hip pain or even headaches and migraines, cupping can help assist the healing process!
Does cupping hurt?
- Many people report that cupping feels like a pressure or a pulling on the skin/muscles. For some people, it feels like a massage, like someone is pushing into the muscle. It definitely can hurt however, it is unlikely to hurt more than a regular deep-tissue massage into the muscle.
Why does it bruise and is that all it does?
- The cups work by suctioning the skin and deeper tissues and the pressure draws blood into the area. Often we see a breaking of tiny blood vessels just under the skin due to this pressure and that is what causes the bruised appearance. This increase of blood flow to the area is why cupping is so effective as it brings blood to the area where the muscles are tight/dysfunctional. Blood brings in oxygen and other nutrients to assist in healing the muscles. So whilst all you see is a bruise on the surface, there is more going on under the skin to help to decrease your pain and increase your function!
At Canterbury Health Hub, our experienced practitioners integrate cupping into holistic treatment plans to help you feel better, move more freely, and recover faster.
If you have any questions about cupping feel free to reach out, and if this is something you would like to try, ask if your practitioner here at CHH does it and give it a go!