03/11/2026
Do cups just leave marks on the skin... or do they actually affect the muscle?
In this video, a diagnostic ultrasound was used to look at the upper trapezius during cupping.
What was seen isn't just skin movement - the vacuum pulls the muscle upward into the cup. That creates tensile stress and separation between muscle fibers, which is exactly why cupping can change how tissue moves, feels, and tolerates load.
Cupping isn't magic - it's a mechanical stimulus that affects both superficial and deeper soft tissue, not just the skin. For more information on cupping call our office at 308–455–1500.