What Is
Cupping?
An ancient soft tissue technique using negative pressure — and one that went global in 2016 when the world noticed the circular marks on Michael Phelps’ shoulders. Here’s what it actually does, and why practitioners still use it.
What It Is
Cupping — negative pressure therapy for soft tissue
Cupping involves placing a cup against the skin and creating a vacuum inside it, drawing the skin and superficial fascia upward into the cup. This negative pressure — the opposite of the compressive force used in regular massage — creates a different kind of mechanical stimulus in the tissue.
The technique has been used across Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Egyptian traditions for thousands of years, applied to acupuncture meridian lines, myofascial areas, and sites of local discomfort. In contemporary remedial massage practice, it is most commonly used as an adjunct to manual therapy — selected based on what the assessment indicates, not as a standalone protocol.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, swimmer Michael Phelps appeared on the pool deck covered in circular purple marks. Within hours, cupping went from a niche clinical tool to a global conversation. The marks are normal, temporary, and one of the most commonly asked questions about the technique.
The Mechanism
How cupping creates its effect
Flame cupping (traditional)
A flame is briefly introduced into the cup to consume the oxygen and create a vacuum. The cup is then quickly placed on the skin. Used in traditional TCM cupping practice.
Suction cup (mechanical)
A hand or mechanical pump is used to draw air out of the cup after it is placed on the skin. More controllable and commonly used in contemporary clinical settings.
The negative pressure effect
Once the cup is in place, the vacuum draws skin and fascia upward. This creates tensile force through the superficial soft tissue layers — in the opposite direction to massage compression.
“Most manual therapy works by pushing into tissue. Cupping works by pulling it upward — creating a different mechanical vector through fascia, skin, and the structures beneath them.”
Types of Cupping
Static, dynamic, and when each is used
Fixed placement
Cups are placed on specific areas and left in position for 5 to 15 minutes. Used when targeting a localised area of tension, restriction, or discomfort. The cup stays in place while the negative pressure works through the tissue. This is the method most people associate with the distinctive circular marks.
Moving the cup along the tissue
Oil is applied to the skin before the cup is placed. With the suction applied, the cup is then glided along fascial lines or muscle groups rather than remaining stationary. This technique covers more area and creates a sustained lifting and dragging force through the tissue — useful for broader fascial restriction patterns. Dynamic cupping typically produces lighter or no marks.
Note: wet cupping (involving skin puncture) is not performed at this clinic. All cupping at Heal Young Massage is dry — either static or dynamic.
The Five Functions
What cupping may do in soft tissue
Support local circulation and metabolic response
The negative pressure causes local vasodilation and may draw blood into the targeted area, creating the visible capillary response beneath the skin. This local circulatory change is one of the primary proposed mechanisms for the technique’s effect on tissue metabolism and recovery.
Fascial and connective tissue mobilisation
Cupping creates a sustained tensile force through the superficial fascia — a layer that conventional compression massage has limited access to. The lifting action may contribute to separating fascial adhesions and restoring glide between tissue layers, supporting range of motion in the targeted region.
Tissue elasticity and range of motion
By creating a sustained stretch through the skin, fascia, and underlying soft tissue, cupping may contribute to improved tissue extensibility in restricted areas. Some clients report improved local range of motion following cupping as part of a broader soft tissue session.
Addressing local tissue tension and restriction
In areas where muscular spasm, fascial tension, or adhesion is contributing to restricted movement or localised discomfort — such as chronic upper trapezius tension or thoracic restriction — cupping offers a decompressive approach that works alongside rather than in addition to compressive manual techniques.
Myofascial pain and sensitivity
Some clients with myofascial pain presentations — including tenderness, muscle fatigue, stiffness, and areas of referred sensitivity — report reduced local discomfort following cupping. The negative pressure creates a neurological response in the superficial fascia that may modulate pain sensitivity in the treated area. Individual responses vary.
About the Marks
What the circles actually are
The most asked question about cupping. The circular discolouration left by static cupping is caused by the negative pressure drawing blood into the capillaries beneath the skin — in some cases causing capillary rupture under the surface. They are not bruises in the conventional sense (caused by blunt trauma) and are generally not painful to touch.
Colour and what it may indicate
In traditional Chinese medicine, mark colour is used as a diagnostic indicator of tissue state. In contemporary practice, it is understood as a reflection of local tissue response to negative pressure.
How long do they last?
Marks typically resolve within 3 to 7 days, depending on the depth of the response and the individual’s circulation. Darker marks may take slightly longer.
Dynamic (gliding) cupping produces lighter or no marks because the cup is kept moving rather than creating prolonged suction in a single area.
Are they painful?
The marks are generally not painful to touch, even when they appear dark. During the session, there is a pulling sensation — the pressure is adjusted to your tolerance and comfort throughout.
Suitability
Who cupping may be suitable for
May be suitable
Upper back and neck tension
One of the most common applications — persistent thoracic and cervical restriction that has responded poorly to compression massage alone.
May be suitable
Fascial restriction patterns
Where superficial fascial adhesion is contributing to movement limitation or regional tightness — the decompressive action of cupping addresses a layer that compression cannot reach effectively.
May be suitable
Athletic recovery
Used alongside other remedial techniques for athletes managing training load — particularly for thoracic, hip flexor, and posterior chain presentations.
May be suitable
Chronic myofascial pain areas
Where long-standing tension and sensitivity in specific areas has not responded to conventional massage pressure, cupping offers a different mechanical input to the tissue.
Contraindicated / discuss first
Skin conditions, open wounds, sunburn
Cupping should not be applied to broken, inflamed, or significantly compromised skin. Active eczema, psoriasis, or similar conditions in the treatment area are a contraindication.
Contraindicated / discuss first
Blood thinners, clotting disorders, pregnancy
Those on anticoagulant medication, with clotting disorders, or who are pregnant should discuss with their treating practitioner before cupping is performed.
Interested in cupping
as part of your treatment?
Mention it when you book, or ask during your assessment. Treatment is selected based on what will be most useful for your specific presentation.
This post is intended as general health information about cupping therapy. The proposed mechanisms and functions described reflect current clinical understanding and traditional practice contexts. Cupping is not a standalone treatment for any medical condition and should be used as part of an individually assessed remedial massage session. If you are unsure whether cupping is appropriate for your condition, please consult a qualified health professional. Individual responses to treatment vary.
