Cupping is a very safe modality that can be performed by any practitioner within a regulated health care practice. The practitioner will use a plastic, rubber or glass cup and a pump to create a vacuum underneath, causing skin to rise. The blood vessels will expand creating a massage effect. The sites for cupping are selected by determining the muscles that are involved in your injury. Either the muscles causing your symptoms or the muscles guarding your injury will be targeted. The cups will stay on your muscles for several minutes at a time. The patient will either be instructed to relax, move certain muscles or allow the practitioner to move muscles during the application of the cups.