Cupping therapy is an ancient practice that involves placing cups on the skin to create a vacuum, generating negative pressure that lifts the skin and underlying soft tissues. This traditional technique has been adopted by various modern healthcare providers. This article will explore why and how chiropractors, who primarily focus on musculoskeletal and nervous system health, utilize this unique form of soft tissue therapy.
Cupping and the Scope of Chiropractic Practice
Many chiropractors incorporate cupping into their practice, often referring to the technique as Myofascial Decompression (MFD) to emphasize its mechanical effect on connective tissue. The ability of a Doctor of Chiropractic to use this modality is regulated by state or provincial licensing boards. Because cupping falls under the umbrella of soft tissue mobilization and physical therapy procedures, it is generally considered permissible in most locations where these therapies are allowed within the chiropractic license.
The use of cupping typically requires the chiropractor to complete specific post-graduate training and obtain certification to ensure competence. Specialized education is necessary to understand the proper application, pressure levels, and contraindications. This variability means that a patient may find cupping offered as a standard service in one chiropractic clinic but not in another, depending on the practitioner’s training and local regulations.
The Therapeutic Rationale for Using Cupping
Chiropractors employ cupping primarily for its mechanical effect on the fascia and muscle tissue, which is distinctly decompressive rather than compressive like traditional massage. The vacuum created by the cups draws skin, fascia, and muscle layers away from the body’s center, which helps to unbind adhesions and restrictions. This lifting action is intended to increase local circulation by drawing blood and fluid into the treated area.
The negative pressure helps to reduce muscle hypertonicity, or excessive tightness, by stimulating the nervous system and mechanically separating tissue layers that may be adhered due to injury or chronic tension. For localized areas of persistent muscle pain, a chiropractor may use static cupping, where the cups remain fixed on a single spot for several minutes to treat a specific trigger point. When addressing larger muscle groups or preparing an area for movement, dynamic cupping is used, involving the cups being moved across the skin after a lubricant is applied.
Integrating Cupping into a Treatment Plan
Cupping is generally used as an adjunctive therapy, meaning it supports the primary goals of the overall treatment plan rather than being a standalone procedure. It is frequently applied as a preparatory step before a manual adjustment or spinal manipulation. By relaxing the surrounding musculature and decreasing fascial tension, the treatment can make the joints more receptive to the adjustment.
Conversely, cupping may be applied immediately following a structural adjustment to consolidate the change and promote recovery. The most common type used in chiropractic settings is dry cupping, which utilizes plastic or silicone cups with a manual pump to create suction, avoiding the use of heat or skin puncture. Patients should anticipate temporary, circular skin markings called petechiae, which typically fade within a week.