REFINE THE WAY YOU MOVE
Our expert therapist provide cupping therapy help relieve your pain, improve mobility, & increase blood circulation
Or Give Us A Call At (647)350-2766
Cupping Therapy can be billed under Massage Therapy or Acupuncture – this will depend on which therapist you see!

How does cupping therapy work?
The cups can be made of glass, plastic or silicone. A vacuum is created in the cups, then placed on your body, where the skin, fascia, and connective tissue are drawn into the cup. This suction draws blood flow to the area while creating space between all the layers of your body. A Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturist or Practitioner is also trained to in cupping therapy according to the medical system to help regulate and balance the body.
When the skin and tissue are drawn upwards, there is a physical space that is created between skin, fascia, and muscle. Think about when you are trying to undo a bad knot – the more you just yank at it – the worse it gets. If you take the time to pull apart the knotted area and open it up, you can then finally untie it. This is the same thing with cupping, we are pulling and opening up already tense and knotted muscle to release it.
What does it do?
Unrestricted and proper circulation is essential for any healing process to occur in our bodies. By forcing blood to an area, we promote blood flow and stimulate a beneficial healing immune response. Fresh blood brings more oxygen to the local area, and as our bodies clear away the marks, it will naturally clear up all the accumulated toxins and stagnated blood in the surrounding tissue.

What are the marks you get with cupping therapy?
Cupping marks are NOT bruises. Bruising is caused by trauma to the body which results in the damage and rupture of blood vessels. The marks are a result of the pool of red blood cells that are drawn out of capillaries. They are not sore, do not turn a purple/green/yellow color, and disappear within 2-10 days. Yes – cupping can CAUSE bruising when done without care and proper training. That’s why it’s so important to always make sure your therapist has proper cupping therapy training! Marks appear differently on every body; some darker and more purple, some lighter and paler. Not one is better than the other, they just indicate different things (e.g. different circulation).
What is Cupping Therapy Good For?
- Upper back and neck tension
- Low back pain
- Improving blood circulation
- Breaking up scar tissue
- Tendonitis
- Sports Injuries
- Decreasing inflammation
What to expect during your appointment?
Light cupping
● Should feel very gentle and comfortable.
● No marks, or very slight redness after which should disappear after a day or two.
● Beneficial for: lymphatic drainage, stress relief, edema, acute injury/sprain, children and elderly, blood.
Medium cupping
● More tension in the cups, comfortable, slight tenderness over trigger points and tight areas.
● Very light to medium marking.
● Beneficial for: muscle tension, injury repair, improve muscle recovery, increasing range of motion, fascial release, cough/colds/flu, lung congestion, scar tissue.
● Most commonly used
Strong cupping
● Lots of tension in the cups, feeling of tightness and tenderness over trigger points and restricted fascia
● Medium to dark marking
● Beneficial for: major fascial adhesions and restrictions, very robust/strong body types
● Sports therapy
● Not for everybody
Cupping is a wonderful therapy that can be incorporated into many modalities including massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractics and of course acupuncture! It’s not something to be afraid of when done by a trained professional. Cupping therapy has been a practice that has been around for thousands of years and passed on in families from generation to generation – now we bring the art and the science together to really harness the healing powers of our own bodies.
How Can Cupping Therapy Help Me?
Check out our instagram posts about cupping therapy to learn more!
Combining cupping therapy with massage
Cupping Therapy in addition to soft tissue work is a perfect blend to ease some tension in those annoying tigh muscles.
Put yourself first for a change and give that body some much needed recovery time. Goals don’t get accomplished as efficiently as they can if you aren’t at your best!
This form of therapy involves warming and placing cups, usually made of plastic or glass, on the skin. By warming the air within the cup, a vacuum is created, and when it is applied to the skin, the tissue is drawn up into the cup.
This increases the blood flow, loosens the fascia/connective tissue, decreases muscle tension, improves muscle fiber repair and promotes healing.
Common Cupping Therapy Questions Answered
Here are a few cupping FAQs:
🔹️Improves blood flow and relieves muscle tension
🔹️Can be used for back/neck pain, migraines, and knee arthritis
🔹️Improves immune function
🔹️No it doesn’t hurt
🔹️Yes it’s extremely relaxing
🔹️Yes it’s great for sore muscles
🔹️The spots fade within a week
Now Serving the Scarborough & Riverdale Community
Markham Rd & Sheppard Ave
Axis Therapy & Performance – Physiotherapy, Chiropractor, RMT Scarborough
1585 Markham Rd, Unit 308
Scarborough, ON M1B 2W1
(647)350-2766
https://www.axistoronto.com/
Broadview Ave & Gerrard St
Axis Therapy & Performance – Massage Therapy Riverdale
377 Broadview Ave Unit 102,
Toronto, ON M4K 2M7
(647)350-2766
https://www.axistoronto.com/