What Cupping Actually Does to Your Tissue
Cupping therapy gets a lot of attention because of the marks they leave on the body. Those dark circular bruises you have probably seen, like much of the public, were likely found on athletes’ backs at the Olympics. Now, understanding what is actually happening under those cups explains why this ancient technique has become a staple of modern therapeutic massage.
When a cup is applied to your skin and the pressure inside is reduced, it creates a negative pressure environment that lifts the tissue upward. This is the opposite of everything else we do in massage. Instead of compressing the tissue, cupping decompresses it. Think of the waves in the ocean, you cannot have a push without the pull of the water. We need both to get the most thorough and efficient
That decompression has several measurable effects.
It separates layers of fascia that have adhered to each other from chronic tension and injury.
It increases local circulation by drawing blood into areas that have become chronically restricted.
Triggers a mild inflammatory response that actually accelerates the healing process, the body sends resources to an area that suddenly has increased circulation and cellular activity.
Why Low Back Pain Specifically Responds Well to Cupping
Low back pain often involves layers of the problem. There is usually muscle guarding, you know when you feel stressed and that protective tightening response to pain or injury that makes you rigid? That is what that is. There is frequently fascial restriction – the connective tissue web that surrounds every muscle becomes dense and restricted with chronic tension. On top of that, there is often reduced circulation to the area, which slows the tissue’s ability to recover between flare-ups.
Cupping addresses all three of these layers simultaneously. For people near Briargate and the 80920 corridor who have tried everything from medications to stretching to conventional massage without sustained relief, cupping often breaks through the ceiling those other approaches didn’t seem to address.
Why It Works Better Combined With Ashiatsu
At Inspire Movements Massage Therapy, I very strongly believe that ashiatsu massage combined with cupping therapy is the best approach to pain relief. Cupping is not offered as a standalone treatment for low back pain. It is combined with ashiatsu massage, and the combination produces results that neither approach achieves indecently.
Here is the logic: ashiatsu massage applies broad, consistent, deep pressure along the erector spinae and lumbar muscles. This works the tissue from the outside in by stepping down into the tissues versus pushing in. Compressing and elongating the muscle fibers, improving mobility in the thoracolumbar fascia, and reducing the protective guarding patterns that keep low back pain chronic.
Cupping then works from the inside out – decompressing the superficial and mid-layer fascia, increasing circulation, and lifting the restrictive adhesions that limit full tissue mobility. Cups help to almost silently break up the tension in less time than ashiatsu and hands can ever attempt to accomplish!
These two techniques work on different tissue depths and different mechanisms. Used in conjunction with each other, and in the same session, they create a more complete effect than either achieves independently.
What to Expect if You Have Never Had Cupping
Cupping does not hurt. If it does, it tends to just need some repositioning, Most people describe the sensation as…odd at best. A reverse pressure or a pulling sensation that is unusual but not painful. The marks left afterward vary from light pink to dark purple depending on your level of circulation restriction and tissue health in that area.
Fun fact! Did you know that if you smoke, you can often times see darker marks along the sides of your ribs?
Darker marks (not related to smoking) indicate more stagnant circulation. They are not bruises in the traditional sense and typically fade within three to seven days. It does vary based on how on top of your healing regimens you are.
For your first combined ashiatsu and cupping session, plan for a 90-minute appointment at minimum. A 2-hour session allows for thorough work on the full back, glutes, and any secondary areas contributing to your low back pain symptoms.
Who Is a Good Candidate
You are a good candidate if you have chronic low back pain that has not fully resolved with other treatments, if you notice your low back feels perpetually stiff and restricted rather than just sore, or if you have been managing with regular stretching and exercise but want to address the soft tissue layer more specifically. Contraindications include active skin conditions over the treatment area, blood thinners, and certain medical conditions. Rest assured, we review your health history before every session to ensure you are the best candidate for this line for work.
Ready to get started? Book your appointment online at springslowbackpainrelief.com or call/text 719-459-0780. Inspire Movements Massage Therapy is located at 1295 Kelly Johnson Blvd, Suite 250 in Briargate, Colorado Springs 80920. Open Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 9am-7:30pm. By appointment only.