Why an Adjustment isn’t a Cure: How Sports Chiropractic Creates Lasting Results
June 29, 2026
Cupping therapy uses negative pressure (suction) to lift the skin and underlying tissues rather than compressing them. Many athletes describe it as a feeling of decompression, particularly in muscles that feel tight, stiff, or overworked. The suction may help improve local circulation, decrease the sensation of muscle tightness, and temporarily improve range of motion. It's commonly used on larger muscle groups such as the back, shoulders, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. And yes—those circular marks are a normal response to the suction and usually fade within several days.
IASTM, on the other hand, uses handheld instruments to apply controlled pressure along muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. One advantage of the tools is that they allow clinicians to both feel and treat changes in tissue texture with greater precision than using hands alone. IASTM is often incorporated into treatment for tendon pain, chronic muscle tightness, scar tissue after injury or surgery, and mobility restrictions. Many patients also find it helpful for improving movement before exercise or reducing stiffness afterward.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding both cupping and IASTM is that they "break up scar tissue," "release adhesions," or permanently change fascia. While these explanations are still common online, current research doesn't strongly support those claims. Instead, the benefits appear to be related more to how these treatments influence the nervous system, pain sensitivity, circulation, and your body's tolerance to movement. In other words, they can help you feel and move better, but they're not physically remodeling your tissues in the dramatic way they're often advertised.
That doesn't mean these techniques aren't valuable—they absolutely can be. They can provide meaningful short-term pain relief, improve mobility, and make it easier to perform the exercises that actually create long-term change. But it's important to recognize that soft tissue therapy is just one piece of the puzzle.
IASTM, on the other hand, uses handheld instruments to apply controlled pressure along muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. One advantage of the tools is that they allow clinicians to both feel and treat changes in tissue texture with greater precision than using hands alone. IASTM is often incorporated into treatment for tendon pain, chronic muscle tightness, scar tissue after injury or surgery, and mobility restrictions. Many patients also find it helpful for improving movement before exercise or reducing stiffness afterward.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding both cupping and IASTM is that they "break up scar tissue," "release adhesions," or permanently change fascia. While these explanations are still common online, current research doesn't strongly support those claims. Instead, the benefits appear to be related more to how these treatments influence the nervous system, pain sensitivity, circulation, and your body's tolerance to movement. In other words, they can help you feel and move better, but they're not physically remodeling your tissues in the dramatic way they're often advertised.
That doesn't mean these techniques aren't valuable—they absolutely can be. They can provide meaningful short-term pain relief, improve mobility, and make it easier to perform the exercises that actually create long-term change. But it's important to recognize that soft tissue therapy is just one piece of the puzzle.
