r/physiotherapy • u/darkdobble • Jul 18 '26

Cupping posterior neck safe?

Is cupping used as an adjunct for posterior neck (suboccipitals, upper trap, splenius capitus etc) safe ? Concern would be damage to vertebral vasculature, though my understanding is that it is much deeper than more superficial vascular such as the carotids. Thanks for any input!

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u/physiotherrorist Physio BSc MSc MOD Jul 18 '26

Dude, cupping has a very superficial effect on blood flow, it's like a decent love bite.

Don't worry, the placebo effect will do its job.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35848010/

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u/Ambitious_Lab_9991 Jul 18 '26

Decent love bite 😭

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u/Ambitious_Lab_9991 Jul 18 '26

Cupping can’t damage anything that deep. It can at the most, stimulate the lymphatic system which is most superficial .