Combining Stationary & Sliding Cups for the Back

When practicing cupping therapy, “If there’s no pain, there’s no stagnation. And if there’s no stagnation, no pain will present with the treatment.” – Dr Peter Chow, Licensed Acupuncturist, OMD, and grandmaster of Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong

Stationary Cupping– After applying the cups to the skin, they may be kept in place (“Stationary”) on specific locations for a period of time (generally 5-10, up to 20 minutes). This approach may result in circulatory coloration of the skin or “ecchymosis” which may be confused with bruising, but does not induce bruise-like pain. Consider stationary cupping on relevant acupressure points or areas of adhesion or ischemia only if the client is okay with the appearance of bruising.

You can leave stationary cups on clients from 5-20 minutes, based on how fragile or resilient they are, their pain level, and depending on how they respond to the work (more pain/sensitivity means less time). Among the many benefits are allowing you to be in more than once place at a time and offers your hands a break.

Stationary cups may be left on adhesions, trigger points, acupressure points, and/or any areas of disorganized fascia (*which often feel stickier when you pass the cups over or adjacent to). Be sure to check in verbally and visually and notify your client that the cups should never feel “pinchy“, and to let you know right away if it does feel pinchy. If that occurs, release some of the air from the cup (less negative pressure/suction) or remove all together.