Cupping Therapy: What It Is, Why We Use It, and How It Supports Performance
- blakecarter1025
- Apr 22
- 2 min read
You’ve probably seen the circles.
Whether it’s a friend at the gym or a fellow runner post-race, the marks left from cupping are hard to miss. But cupping isn’t just about looking like you had something “done”—it’s a powerful recovery and mobility tool we regularly use at The Impact Initiative Physical Therapy & Performance to help our patients move better, feel better, and perform better.
Let’s break down what it actually is, when we use it, and how it fits into your long-term progress.
What Is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy involves placing silicone or plastic cups on the skin to create suction. This suction lifts the skin and underlying fascia, helping to decompress tissues that may be stiff, sore, or restricted.
This decompression helps:
Improve blood flow and circulation
Release fascial tension
Promote tissue hydration
Reduce sensitivity and soreness
Unlike massage, which pushes down into tissue, cupping lifts and creates space—which can be a game-changer for stiff, overused areas.
We use static cupping (leaving cups in one spot) or dynamic cupping (gliding the cups across tissue) depending on what your body needs.
Why Do We Use It in Physical Therapy?
Because stretching isn’t always enough—and foam rolling doesn’t reach the deeper restrictions.
Cupping helps us treat:
Nagging tension in the upper traps, low back, and glutes
Shoulder and hip stiffness that limits lifting or range of motion
Post-training soreness that slows down your recovery
Tissue restriction in high-mileage runners or high-volume lifters
Overuse tension from repetitive movements or sitting all day
If you’ve been working through discomfort that won’t go away with typical recovery strategies, cupping might be a great next step.
When Is Cupping Most Effective?
We often use cupping for athletes and active individuals who are:
Mid-training cycle and feeling tight or restricted
Dealing with persistent “tight spots” that don’t improve with stretching
Needing improved mobility for lifts or running form
Struggling with tissue that always feels “locked up” post-WOD or long run
But here’s the thing—it’s not a magic fix.
Cupping + Movement = Long-Term Results
Cupping can help reduce pain and increase mobility in the short term—but it’s what you do afterward that actually creates long-lasting change.
Once we’ve released the tension and improved tissue mobility, we immediately follow it with:
✅ Targeted strength work
✅ Movement re-education
✅ Mobility and motor control drills
✅ Functional exercises specific to your goals
This is how we bridge the gap between passive treatment and real performance gains. Cupping helps set the stage—intentional movement locks in the change.
Is Cupping Right for You?
If you’re an active adult, runner, hybrid athlete, CrossFitter, or just training hard and dealing with tight, cranky areas that keep slowing you down—cupping could be a great addition to your recovery plan.
We use it every week here at The Impact Initiative Physical Therapy & Performance in Woodstock, GA—not just to reduce discomfort, but to unlock better movement and optimize performance.
Ready to move better and train pain-free? Book your performance session with us today.
Rid Pain. Move Better. Optimize Performance.
Woodstock Physical Therapy
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