The distinctive circular marks seen on athletes at the Olympics introduced many Westerners to cupping for the first time. Yet cupping has been used for thousands of years across cultures, often hand in hand with acupuncture in traditional East Asian clinics.

How Cupping Works

Glass, bamboo, or silicone cups are applied to the skin and a vacuum is created either by heat or by manual suction. The negative pressure draws skin and superficial fascia upward, increasing local blood flow and influencing the underlying tissue.

Fixed and Sliding Variants

In fixed cupping, cups remain stationary for five to fifteen minutes. In sliding cupping, oil is applied to the skin and the cups are moved in long strokes along muscle groups, producing an effect similar to deep myofascial release.

Wet Cupping

Some traditional practitioners perform wet cupping, in which small superficial pricks are made before cup application. This technique should only be done in strictly sterile conditions by trained practitioners.

Marks Are Not Bruises

The circular discolorations are not bruises caused by impact but rather areas where stagnant blood and metabolic waste have been drawn toward the surface. They typically fade within three to seven days without tenderness.

Common Indications

Cupping is most often used for muscular tension, chronic back and shoulder pain, and certain respiratory complaints. Athletes frequently turn to it for recovery between heavy training sessions.

What to Watch For

Although generally safe, cupping should be avoided over broken skin, varicose veins, or on patients with severe coagulation disorders. A measured discussion of cupping evidence is available from Cleveland Clinic.