What Is Cupping Therapy and Can It Help Arthritis Pain

New research provides mixed answers. Some studies show weak evidence that cupping helps with pain or movement in knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

For instance, a review by Li et al. found small improvements in pain and disability. You can refer to this chart to see how cupping compares to other treatments:

Cupping might assist some individuals with arthritis pain. However, experts emphasize the need for more robust research.

Key Takeaways

• Cupping therapy might help lessen pain and help you move better if you have arthritis. But scientists need to do more studies to know if it really works.
• Some experts think cupping can help lower swelling. It can be used with other treatments to help with arthritis symptoms.
• Cupping therapy is usually safe. But you should talk to your doctor before you try it, especially if you already have health problems.
• Pick a licensed person to do cupping therapy. This helps keep you safe and makes sure it works well. Ask them about their training and if they have helped people with arthritis before.
• You might see some marks on your skin after cupping. These marks usually go away in a few days. Drink plenty of water and wear loose clothes to feel comfortable.

Is Cupping Therapy Good for Arthritis?

Research Findings

You might wonder if cupping therapy is good for arthritis. Many scientists have tried to find the answer. They studied how cupping changes pain and movement in people with arthritis.

This includes people with knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies say cupping can lower pain and help joints move better. Other studies say the results are not strong enough to be sure.

Look at this table. It shows how strong the evidence is for cupping therapy in different health problems:

You can see that the evidence for knee osteoarthritis and chronic pain is moderate. This means some experts think cupping may help, but they want more studies to be sure.

If you ask if cupping therapy is good for arthritis, the answer is not simple. Some people feel better after cupping, but doctors still need more proof before they tell everyone to try it.

Most research on cupping therapy for arthritis uses small groups of people. Scientists need bigger studies to know if cupping works for most patients.

Expert Insights

Many rheumatology experts have shared what they think about cupping therapy for arthritis. They have seen some good changes in patients who try this treatment.

Here are some things experts have noticed:

• Cupping therapy can lower inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
• After cupping, patients often have lower levels of markers like RF, CRP, WBCs, and neutrophils. These markers show doctors how much inflammation is in your body.
• Some experts suggest using cupping as an extra treatment to help manage arthritis symptoms.

You might also wonder if cupping helps with muscle pain. Experts say cupping can relax muscles that hurt because of arthritis.

Many people with arthritis use protective postures, which can make their muscles tight. Cupping can help with muscle spasms, especially in the back and shoulders. Special cupping methods can target the spots where you feel the most pain.

If you still ask if cupping therapy is good for arthritis, remember that experts see some benefits. They also agree that more research is needed.

You should talk to your doctor before trying cupping therapy. Your doctor can help you decide if this treatment is right for you.

What Is Cupping Therapy?

How It Works

Cupping therapy is a very old way to help people feel better. You might have seen round marks on athletes or famous people.

These marks come from cups that stick to the skin. The cups use suction to pull up the skin and muscles. This brings more blood to that spot and may help with pain.

People have used cupping for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians used it long ago. Hippocrates, a Greek doctor, also used cupping for sickness.

Later, Islamic medicine made cupping even better. Today, cupping is popular again for sore muscles and joint pain. Many people like it because it is a natural choice.

You may ask how cupping helps with arthritis pain. When you get cupping, your body reacts in different ways:

• Blood moves better, which can help with swelling and pain.
• The therapy might make you feel less pain.
• Your body makes endorphins, which help with pain.
• Cupping can change how nerves send pain messages.
• It may help your immune system clean up sore joints.

Cupping also changes things under your skin. It can change pH, blood flow, and how your body deals with swelling. Some experts think it helps remove tiny things that cause swelling.

Types: Dry and Wet

There are different kinds of cupping. The two main types are dry cupping and wet cupping. Here is a simple table to show how they are different:

Fire cupping is a kind of dry cupping. Heat is used to make the suction. Many people with arthritis try dry cupping first because it does not break the skin.

Chiropractors and acupuncturists often do this therapy. If your joints hurt, dry cupping might help you feel better.

Benefits and Risks

Pain Relief and Inflammation

You might wonder how cupping therapy helps with arthritis pain. Cupping can help blood move better in your body. This helps your body fix damaged tissues.

Some studies say cupping works like acetaminophen for knee swelling. The pain-gate theory says cupping touches big nerve fibers.

These fibers stop pain signals from going to your brain. A review from 2023 found cupping helps with long-lasting pain. This includes pain from knee osteoarthritis. But the studies were not very strong.

Here is a table that shows what scientists found:

You can look at pain scores after cupping therapy:

These numbers show people had less pain after cupping than those who did not try it.

Side Effects

Cupping therapy is mostly safe, but you should know about side effects. Most people only get small problems. Here are the most common side effects:

• Mild pain
• Burns
• Bruises
• Skin infection
• Risk of getting sick from dirty equipment

Make sure your therapist uses clean tools and follows safety rules.

Safety for Arthritis

If you have arthritis, you may ask if cupping is safe. Studies show cupping can lower pain and help your immune system. This is true for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Wet cupping may lower pain and swelling markers. Cupping can also help balance immune cells. Some research found cupping with medicine works better than medicine alone.

You should be careful:

• Clean the skin before and after cupping.
• Watch for red marks, swelling, or bruises.
• Do not use cupping on open wounds or dry skin.
• People over 60 or with health problems should use gentle cupping.
• Do not use cupping if you have deep vein thrombosis, eczema, or infected skin.

If you still wonder if cupping therapy is good for arthritis, it may help some people. Always talk to your doctor first.

Practical Advice

Talking to Your Doctor

Talk to your doctor before you try cupping therapy. Your doctor knows your health best. They can help you decide if cupping is safe for you. Write down your questions before you go. You might want to ask these things:

• Can I use cupping with my arthritis treatment?
• Are there any risks for me?
• How often should I get cupping?

Bring a list of your medicines and allergies. This helps your doctor give you the best advice.

Your doctor may want to check your skin or joints first. If you have other health problems, your doctor can tell you if cupping is a good idea.

What to Expect

During cupping therapy, the therapist puts cups on your skin. The cups make a suction feeling. You may feel tightness or pulling. The cups stay on your skin for a few minutes.

You might feel warmth or tingling. After the session, you may see round marks on your skin. These marks go away in a few days. The main goals are to relax your muscles and help blood flow. This can help lower pain.

• Many people feel better right after a session.
• The suction helps blood move to sore spots and can lower pain.

Wear loose clothes to your appointment. Drink water after your session to help your body recover.

Choosing a Practitioner

You want a safe and skilled person for cupping therapy. Look for someone who has a license in health care. Good choices are:

• Licensed physical therapists
• Licensed chiropractors
• Licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioners
• Licensed massage therapists who use cupping

Ask about their training and if they have helped people with arthritis. You can also check if they have special certificates.

Here are some groups that give cupping therapy certificates:

Always make sure your practitioner uses clean tools and follows safety rules.

You may still ask if cupping therapy helps arthritis. Most doctors are not sure it works well. Many reports say it does not help much with pain. The research has some problems:

You might feel less pain, but proof is not strong. Some people can have side effects. Cupping is not safe for everyone. Always ask your doctor before you try it. Learning more can help you choose what is best for your arthritis.

FAQ

Can you do cupping therapy at home?

You should not try cupping therapy at home. A trained professional knows how to use the cups safely. You could hurt your skin or cause an infection if you do it by yourself.

How long do the cupping marks last?

Most cupping marks fade in a few days. Some may last up to two weeks. The marks do not hurt. You can cover them with clothing if you want.

Does cupping therapy hurt?

You may feel a tight or pulling feeling during cupping. Most people say it does not hurt. If you feel pain, tell your therapist right away.

Can you use cupping with other arthritis treatments?

Yes, you can use cupping with other treatments like medicine or physical therapy. Always talk to your doctor first. Your doctor can help you make a safe plan.