The use of plastic cups that are placed over localized areas of skin where vacuum suction of the skin and underlying soft tissues is achieved using a manual handheld pump. In contrast to wet cupping, dry cupping does not involve incisions into the skin or penetration of the skin barrier. When applied by a physiotherapist for orthopedic treatment goals, myofascial dry cupping has been found to be effective in reducing musculoskeletal pain and improving function especially when combined with physiotherapeutic exercise (Wood et al., 2020). Wood, S., Fryer, G., Tan, L. L. F., & Cleary, C. (2020). Dry cupping for musculoskeletal pain and range of motion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 24(4), 503–518.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.024
