What Cupping Actually Does

Instead of pressing tissue down like rollers do, cupping lifts it. That brief vacuum:

Boosts local blood flow (reactive hyperemia) after the cup comes off. In a lab study, 5 minutes at common settings increased skin blood flow 11×–17× baseline.

Can reduce pain short-term. A 2024 meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (n=921) on low-back pain found large effects at 2–8 weeks (pain d=1.09) and better results than medication (d=1.80) or usual care (d=1.07). Disability improved at 1–6 months (d=0.67).

May improve flexibility right away: a single moving-cupping session increased straight-leg-raise range ~7% and popliteal angle ~4% in healthy adults.