Therapeutic Interventions and Contraindications of Cupping

By Kaylen Kallander

Cupping therapy is used to apply negative pressure to a localized area of muscular or neurological pain to relieve nerve pressure and increase blood flow to an affected area. This modality is commonly used for athletes, but is also a frequent treatment in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or hand therapy. While cupping can be an effective and beneficial treatment, it should be used in correct circumstances with specific precautions.

Reasons for Use

  • Musculoskeletal injuries/tightness
  • Myofascial adhesions
  • Neurologic pain with doctor’s approval

Cupping along median nerve pathways modified to use smaller cups for this patient whose arms had less surface area for suction.

Contraindications & Reasons to Discontinue

  • Open wounds or acute injury with 24-72 hours
  • Neurovascular compromise
  • Cardiac or blood malfunction
  • Blisters, lightheadedness, or significant pain during use

Considerations

In addition to the appropriate application of cupping therapy, a thorough explanation of treatment effects must be provided to patients. Patients, or parents of minor patients, should give consent before treatment proceeds. Allergies to cupping material, lotion, or oil should be considered as well. Significant bruises are expected and can last from a few days to two weeks. However, treatment should always be within a patient’s pain tolerance. While soreness is normal, it shouldn’t feel worse than having received a deep tissue massage. Patients who have received multiple treatments often present less discomfort with increased suction and decreased bruising over time. Therapeutic effects of cupping treatment can be seen with as little as 5 minutes but should be no longer than 30 minutes if in a static position.

Key Takeaways

Therapy should always be holistic, purposeful, and patient specific. Cupping may be utilized for various diagnoses and pain relief, but patient experience and preference is equally important. Furthermore, a sufficient background of medical knowledge is required to understand potential contraindications to refrain from, delay, or cease treatment. With professional critical reasoning, cupping can be a great modality to use in hand therapy for decreased muscular or nerve pain.

Cage, A. (2019). Clinical Experts Statement: The definition, Prescription, and application of cupping Therapy. Clinical Practice in Athletic Training, 2(2), 4–11. https://doi.org/10.31622/2019/0002.2

4 Comments

  1. Leia on December 14, 2024 at 3:49 am

    I love your blog posts. Short and full of little gems.

    • Miranda Materi on January 11, 2025 at 6:08 am

      Thank you for your kind words! We love sharing.

  2. Jay Gerzmehle on December 16, 2024 at 1:59 pm

    I would add to always include active movement with your cupping treatments for best results.

    • Miranda Materi on January 11, 2025 at 6:07 am

      That is a great tip as well!

Leave a Comment






More To Read

THE SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY OF ULTRASOUND FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: A META-ANALYSIS

July 21, 2019

Fowler, J. R., Gaughan J. P., & Ilyas, A.M. (2011).  The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis.  Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 469(4), 1089-1094. The Skinny –The authors sought out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound therapy for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome using…

Read More

Top 5 Hand Therapy Toys for Kids

November 3, 2019

Many therapists in hand therapy clinics have a lot of tools for their adult patients, but may not have as many tools for the less common pediatric patient. With nearly 20 years experience in pediatrics, we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 picks for tools to use with pediatric patients in hand therapy. We…

Read More

Do you know the difference between an Electromyography (EMG) and a Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) Study?

November 28, 2021

 Do you know the difference between EMG and NCV (an Electromyography and a Nerve Conduction Velocity Study? The term nerve test is usually a broad term that typically indicates both an Electromyography (EMG) and a Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) study (EMG vs NCV).  An EMG  looks at the electrical signals your muscle makes when at…

Read More

Comparison of Erb’s Palsy and Klumpke’s Palsy: Symptoms, Presentation, and Treatment Options

June 2, 2024

What is the brachial plexus? The brachial plexus is a group of nerves originating from the cervical and thoracic nerve roots (from C5 to T1). The brachial plexus forms 5 peripheral nerves of the upper extremity, consisting of the musculocutaneous, median, radial, ulnar, and axillary nerves. This group of nerves supplies motor and sensory innervation…

Read More
Envelope_1

Sign-up to Get Updates Straight to Your Inbox!

Sign up with us and we will send you regular blog posts on everything hand therapy, notices every time we upload new videos and tutorials, along with handout, protocols, and other useful information.