Feeling Stuck? Myofascial Cupping Could Be the Release You Need
Written by Charlotte - owner of RFLX Sports Massage in Bishops Cleeve. I’m a qualified sports massage therapist with a background in movement and chronic pain, offering supportive, tailored care to help people feel and move better
If you’ve ever had a sports massage at our clinic in Bishops Cleeve, chances are we’ve talked about things like tight muscles, recovery, and how to keep your body feeling its best. But you might have noticed we’ve recently added something new to the mix: myofascial cupping. It’s now available as an optional enhancement to your treatment, giving us another way to help you feel looser, move better, and recover faster. It’s not for everyone, and it’s never used just for the sake of it, but in the right situation, it can make a real difference.
So, what exactly is it? How does it work? And why might we use it during your treatment? Let’s break it down.
So… What Is Myofascial Cupping?
You’ve probably seen those circular marks on athletes’ backs and shoulders, and yep, that’s usually from cupping. But myofascial cupping is a little bit more specific in nature. It’s all about working with your fascia, the stretchy, spiderweb-like connective tissue that surrounds your muscles, bones and organs.
Over time, fascia can get tight or stuck (especially if you train hard, sit for long hours, or have old injuries hanging around). That’s where the cups come in. We use them to create a gentle suction on your skin, which helps lift and loosen the fascia underneath.
Think of it like giving your soft tissues a bit of breathing room, and helping everything glide and move more freely again.
When Would We Use Cupping in Your Sports Massage?
At our sports massage clinic in Bishops Cleeve, we don’t just throw in techniques for the sake of it. Everything we do is tailored to how your body feels on the day. But here are a few times when cupping might come into play:
You’ve got stubborn tightness – If massage alone isn’t quite shifting a particularly knotty spot (like your calves, quads, or shoulders), cupping can be really helpful in releasing some of that deeper tension
You’re training hard – Cupping is brilliant for pre- or post-event support. It helps wake up the tissues before a big session, or aids recovery if you’ve gone all-in.
You’re feeling restricted – Maybe your back feels “stuck” or your hamstrings aren’t loosening up. A bit of cupping can help unstick things and restore movement.
Rehabilitation – If you’re recovering from a soft tissue injury and the fascia’s a bit locked down, we might use cupping (alongside other techniques) to get things moving again.
At RFLX Sports Massage, we always use it as part of your sports massage session - so you’ll still get hands-on work, but the cups give us another tool in the toolkit to get the best results for you. For example, if you’ve come in with tight calves, we would have the cups on one calf whilst we do manual hands-on therapy on the other calf, and then we would switch. Whilst we love all of the incredible benefits of myofascial cupping therapy, it’s not something we use to replace sports massage therapy - it’s an enhancement.
What Does It Actually Feel Like?
Good question! Most people say it feels a bit odd at first, like a slight pulling or lifting sensation, but not painful. Your sports massage therapist will check in with you at the time of application and throughout to check that the temporary discomfort is still at a manageable level. The cups stay on for a few minutes, depending on what we’re working on. Afterwards, the area often feels lighter, freer and less tense.
You might get a few circular marks (like a temporary bruise), especially if the area was particularly tight. They’re totally normal and usually fade within a few days - but usually we would advise that if you’re planning on wearing a backless dress or heading off on holiday to top up your sun tan that cupping may not be for you (unless you don’t mind a few raised eyebrows at the side of the pool!)
So… What Are the Benefits?
Here’s why we love using myofascial cupping as part of sports massage sessions in the Cheltenham area:
Helps tight muscles release faster – Great for stubborn spots that need a bit more persuasion.
Improves circulation – More blood flow = better oxygen delivery and waste removal = quicker recovery.
Gets fascia moving again – This is the big one. When fascia is gliding freely, everything feels smoother and more mobile.
Enhances your sports massage – Cupping can help prepare the tissue so that massage techniques are even more effective.
Can reduce aches, stiffness and movement restrictions – Especially if you’re sitting a lot, training hard, or coming back from injury.
Is It Right for You?
It might be, and we’ll always chat about it during your session. We’ll assess how your body feels and whether cupping could be helpful for your specific issue. It's not for everyone, and that’s totally fine. The aim is always to give you a treatment that works for you. At RFLX Sports Massage, it’s our priority to ensure that your treatment time is used to work on your individual needs, and to work within the scope of your comfort.
Fancy Giving It a Go?
If you’re based in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, or the surrounding areas, and you’re curious about trying myofascial cupping as part of your sports massage, just let us know when you book. We’ll talk through whether it’s a good fit for what you need.
Whether you’re training hard, feeling stiff from work, or just want to move better, we’ve got a range of techniques to help you feel your best - and cupping is just one of them.