Cupping Therapy
Suction-cup soft-tissue therapy that lifts tight muscles and fascia, boosts local blood flow, and helps stubborn, achy areas let go — on its own or alongside massage and adjustments.
Call (352) 340-3220Plan your visit
A personal starting point.
Contact our office to ask about cupping, what a session involves, and whether it fits your care plan. Share any skin concerns, medical history, and medications with the team beforehand.
What is cupping therapy?
Cupping is a soft-tissue therapy with roots in traditional medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. Small cups — in our office, clear plastic cups applied with a hand pump, as shown above — are placed on the skin over tight muscles, most often on the back, shoulders, and legs. Instead of pressing down into the tissue the way massage does, cupping lifts: gentle suction draws the skin and the surface layers of muscle and fascia up into the cup. That decompression of the tissue is what makes cupping different from other hands-on work, and why so many people find it reaches a deep, “stuck” tightness that pressure alone does not release.
How it works
Your provider places the cups, then uses the pump to create the level of suction appropriate for the area — you will feel a tight pulling sensation, but it should not be painful, and pressure is adjusted to your comfort. Cups may be left in place for several minutes (stationary cupping) or glided slowly across oiled skin (moving cupping), which feels like a deep massage in reverse. The lift separates the layers of fascia, stretches tight tissue, and draws fresh blood into the area, which supports the body’s normal healing and recovery process and can help reduce the feeling of stiffness and restriction. Sessions are usually brief and are often combined with massage therapy or chiropractic adjustments. One expected part of cupping: the suction can leave round marks where the cups were — these are not injuries, are usually not painful, and typically fade within a few days to about a week.
Concerns cupping therapy is commonly used for
- Back pain and tightness
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Muscle knots and trigger points
- Fascial restrictions and stiffness
- Sports recovery and post-workout soreness
- IT band and leg tightness
- Tension headaches related to neck and shoulder muscles
- Chronic soft-tissue pain and restricted movement
Cupping is not applied over broken or irritated skin, and it is not right for everyone — blood-thinning medications, clotting conditions, and certain skin and medical concerns need to be discussed first. Results vary from person to person, which is why suitability is confirmed with our team before your session.