CurrentOT, Occupational therapistOTA, Occupational therapy assistant
Cupping
Choose your profession and state in Your lens above, and this page answers for you first.
At a glance
- DC, ChiropractorChiropractorVaries by stateChiropractic acts rarely name cupping; boards that have ruled, such as Oregon's, Nevada's and West Virginia's, treat it as part of chiropractic, but whether it is allowed depends on your state board.
- PT, Physical therapistPhysical therapistWithin scopeCupping is generally treated as a physical therapy technique for therapists trained to use it, though few practice acts name it.
- PTA, Physical therapist assistantPhysical therapist assistantNot yet covered
- OT, Occupational therapistOccupational therapistVaries by stateOccupational therapy laws rarely name cupping; where a rule does, as in Illinois, it is a modality that needs added training, so whether it is allowed depends on your state board.
- OTA, Occupational therapy assistantOccupational therapy assistantNot yet covered
- AT, Athletic trainerAthletic trainerVaries by stateAthletic training laws rarely name cupping; Washington's health department allows a form of it when the treatment goal fits athletic training, but whether it is allowed depends on your state.
- LMT, Massage therapistMassage therapistWithin scopeCupping is generally within massage therapy where laws or boards address it, though some forms are excluded; New York's board, for example, places fire and wet cupping outside massage.
- CSCS, Strength and conditioning specialistStrength and conditioning specialistNot yet covered
- CPT, Personal trainerPersonal trainerNot yet covered
What it is
Cups create suction on the skin. In rehabilitation settings they are often moved along the tissue, a technique sometimes called myofascial decompression.
Names across professions
| Profession | Term in practice acts | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Across professions | Myofascial decompression | Used in some rehabilitation settings |
| Across professions | Cupping therapy | Also part of traditional East Asian medicine |
What the bodies say
Check your state
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Go to Get licensedState-by-state detail
This topic varies enough between states to warrant a state table, with the statute and board for each cell.
Research
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