Glass and silicone cupping at our Lane Cove clinic — moving Qi and Blood stagnation, supporting athletic recovery and relieving tension across Sydney's North Shore.
Book a Session Explore AcupunctureCupping therapy is a therapeutic technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years, now increasingly embraced by sports medicine, physiotherapy and integrative health practitioners worldwide. At Lane Cove Acupuncture, we offer cupping as part of a comprehensive TCM treatment plan or as a targeted standalone modality for musculoskeletal pain, respiratory conditions and immune support.
The therapy involves placing cups — made from glass, bamboo, silicone or plastic — on the skin and creating a vacuum or negative pressure inside them. This suction lifts the superficial layers of tissue, increasing local blood circulation, releasing fascial adhesions, and stimulating the flow of Qi and Blood through the meridian channels. The result is a profound sense of release in tight muscles and a systemic relaxation response that patients from Lane Cove, Willoughby, Hunters Hill and Longueville describe as deeply satisfying.
Traditional glass cups are applied using a brief flame to create the vacuum. Glass cups provide strong, consistent suction and are preferred for stationary cupping on the back, shoulders and hips. The technique requires skill and training — our AHPRA-registered practitioners are fully qualified in its safe application.
Flexible silicone cups allow the practitioner to glide the cup along a muscle group — a technique known as sliding or moving cupping. This is particularly effective for broad areas of tension such as the entire back or the IT band. Silicone cups are also excellent for patients who prefer a lighter level of suction.
In TCM theory, pain, tension and disease frequently arise from the stagnation of Qi (vital energy) and Blood in the meridian channels. Cold, damp environments (relevant to Sydney winters), overwork, emotional stress and physical injury can all cause this stagnation. Cupping creates strong local movement of Qi and Blood, effectively clearing the blockage and restoring the smooth flow that characterises health.
The negative pressure mechanism also stimulates the flow of lymphatic fluid, assisting the immune system in clearing metabolic waste products from muscle tissue. This explains why cupping is so effective after intense athletic training — it accelerates the clearance of lactic acid and other byproducts that contribute to delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Global attention turned to cupping therapy at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, when several elite swimmers and gymnasts competed with the distinctive circular marks visible on their backs and shoulders. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, was among those photographed with cupping marks. Sports science teams for Olympic programmes in numerous countries now incorporate cupping as part of their recovery protocols — a validation that sits comfortably alongside TCM's millennia of clinical observation.
Important note on cupping marks: The temporary discolouration left by cupping is not bruising in the conventional sense. It is the extravasation of stagnant blood from the capillaries into the superficial tissue — a diagnostic indicator of the degree of stagnation present. Darker marks indicate more significant stagnation; with repeated treatments, marks typically become lighter as circulation improves.
Cupping therapy is indicated for a wide range of conditions. Our practitioners will determine whether cupping is appropriate for your specific presentation during the initial consultation.
Cupping is contraindicated over broken skin, areas of active inflammation, varicose veins, or in patients taking anticoagulant medications. Patients who are pregnant should inform their practitioner, as some areas are avoided during pregnancy. Always disclose your full health history at the time of booking.
At Lane Cove Acupuncture, cupping rarely occurs in isolation. We integrate it within a broader TCM treatment plan that may include acupuncture needling, electroacupuncture, Tui Na massage and herbal medicine. For sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions, this integrated approach addresses both the local tissue dysfunction and the underlying TCM pattern — ensuring that recovery is complete rather than merely symptomatic.
Patients attending our clinic from Willoughby, Hunters Hill and Longueville who present with chronic or recurrent sports injuries often find that cupping, combined with acupuncture, addresses the tissue quality and circulation issues that make them vulnerable to re-injury. For more information on our sports injury programme, see our Sports Injury page.
Pricing: Cupping is typically included within the consultation fee. Initial consultation 90 min — $150. Follow-up sessions 60 min — $110. HICAPS private health available (Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB, HBF, AHM).
Most patients find cupping surprisingly comfortable and deeply relaxing. You will feel a strong suction sensation and a sense of pulling on the skin, but it is not typically painful. The intensity of the suction is adjusted to your comfort level. Sliding cupping has a sensation similar to a deep tissue massage. Any significant discomfort should be reported immediately to your practitioner.
Cupping marks (sha) typically fade within three to seven days. The darker the initial mark, the greater the degree of stagnation present — and subsequent sessions usually produce lighter marks as circulation improves. The marks are not bruises in the traumatic sense and are generally not tender to touch.
We recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for 24 hours after a cupping session. The treated areas need time to integrate the treatment. Light walking or gentle stretching is fine. Avoid swimming immediately after as the open pores are more susceptible to infection.
Cupping can be used during pregnancy with specific modifications. Certain areas of the body — particularly the abdomen, lower back and specific acupuncture points — are avoided. Please inform us of your pregnancy when booking so we can plan the safest and most appropriate treatment for your stage.
Massage applies compressive pressure downward into the tissue. Cupping applies negative (upward-lifting) pressure, which decompresses tissue layers, separates fascial adhesions and draws blood and lymph into the area in a fundamentally different way. Many practitioners and patients find cupping reaches depths that manual massage cannot access. The two modalities complement each other excellently.
