You’re dealing with pain that limits what you can do. Maybe it’s your lower back when you garden, your neck after a day of work, or that stubborn shoulder that won’t let you sleep on your side anymore.
Cupping therapy works by creating suction on your skin that pulls blood flow to tight, painful areas. That increased circulation helps your muscles relax, reduces inflammation, and triggers your body’s natural pain-relieving response. Clinical studies show it significantly improves range of motion and decreases pain levels—without prescriptions or side effects.
Most people notice less stiffness after the first session. Over a few weeks, you start doing things you’d been avoiding. Reaching overhead doesn’t hurt. Bending down feels easier. You sleep through the night again.
The goal isn’t just temporary relief. It’s getting you back to the activities that matter—whether that’s working in your yard, playing with grandkids, or simply moving through your day without constantly thinking about what hurts.
We’ve been providing physical therapy across Long Island for over a decade. We know what it’s like living on Shelter Island—the ferry schedule, the lack of local hospitals, the challenge of getting specialized care without leaving the island.
That’s why we bring licensed physical therapists directly to your home. We integrate cupping therapy into personalized treatment plans, and every session is covered by Medicare. No guessing about costs, no surprise bills.
We’ve built our reputation on showing up when we say we will and actually listening to what’s going on with your body. You’re not rushed through a 15-minute appointment. You get the time and attention it takes to understand your pain and create a plan that works for your life in Shelter Island, NY.
Your first appointment starts with a conversation. We ask about your pain—where it is, when it started, what makes it worse, what you’ve already tried. Then we assess how you move, where you’re tight, and what’s actually causing the problem.
During cupping, we place smooth cups on your skin over the painful areas. A gentle suction pulls your tissue up into the cup, increasing blood flow to muscles that have been tight or injured. Most people say it feels like a deep tissue massage—some pressure, but not painful. The cups stay on for 5 to 15 minutes depending on what your body needs.
You might see circular marks afterward. They’re not bruises—they’re a sign of increased circulation. They fade within a few days and don’t hurt.
We usually combine cupping with other physical therapy techniques like stretching, strengthening exercises, or manual therapy. The combination gives you better results than any single approach alone. Sessions typically happen once or twice a week, and most treatment plans run 4 to 8 weeks depending on your condition and goals.
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Every cupping therapy session is part of a complete physical therapy treatment plan. You’re not just getting cups placed on your back—you’re getting a licensed physical therapist who evaluates your entire movement pattern and builds a strategy around your specific needs.
We use dry cupping, which means no needles, no blood, no invasive procedures. Just suction-based therapy that your muscles respond to naturally. It’s particularly effective for chronic lower back pain, neck tension, knee pain, and muscle tightness that limits your mobility.
Because Shelter Island has a higher percentage of residents over 50, we see a lot of age-related pain and stiffness. Cupping helps address those issues without adding more medications to your routine. For many people, it’s the first treatment that actually reduces their pain instead of just masking it temporarily.
All services are provided in your home, which matters when you’re managing pain. You don’t have to drive anywhere, sit in a waiting room, or plan your day around ferry schedules. We come to you, and Medicare covers it.
Yes, and there’s clinical evidence to back it up. Research involving over 5,700 participants found that cupping therapy significantly reduced chronic pain compared to standard treatments alone.
It’s particularly effective for lower back pain, neck pain, and knee osteoarthritis—three of the most common pain conditions we treat in Shelter Island. The therapy works by increasing blood flow to painful areas, which helps reduce inflammation and triggers your body’s natural pain-relief mechanisms.
You’ll likely feel some improvement after your first session, but the real results build over several weeks. Most people notice they’re moving more easily, sleeping better, and relying less on pain medication. It’s not a miracle cure, but it’s a proven tool that works when it’s part of a complete physical therapy plan.
Yes. When we perform cupping as part of your outpatient physical therapy treatment, Medicare covers it just like any other physical therapy service.
You won’t pay extra for the cupping itself—it’s included in your therapy session. Your typical Medicare co-pays and deductibles apply, but there are no surprise fees or out-of-pocket costs beyond what you’d normally pay for physical therapy.
We verify your coverage before your first appointment and explain exactly what you’ll owe. Most Shelter Island residents we work with have Medicare, so we’re very familiar with how the billing works and what’s covered.
Cupping feels like a firm pulling sensation on your skin—similar to a deep tissue massage but without the pressure of hands kneading your muscles. Most people find it relaxing once they get used to the sensation.
The cups create suction that draws your skin and underlying tissue upward. It’s not painful, though you’ll definitely feel it working. If the suction ever feels too strong, we adjust it immediately.
You will likely see circular marks where the cups were placed. These aren’t bruises—they’re caused by increased blood flow to the area, which is actually the therapeutic effect we’re looking for. The marks are usually dark red or purple and fade completely within 3 to 7 days. They don’t hurt and most people don’t even notice them unless they’re looking in a mirror.
Massage uses compression—pushing down into your muscles to release tension. Cupping does the opposite. It uses suction to pull your tissue upward, which creates space between muscle layers and increases blood flow in a different way.
That pulling action is especially helpful for pain caused by tight fascia, trigger points, or areas where your muscles feel “stuck.” It reaches deeper layers of tissue without the discomfort that sometimes comes with deep pressure massage.
We’re also licensed physical therapists, not massage therapists. That means we’re diagnosing movement problems, building rehabilitation plans, and integrating cupping with exercises and stretches designed to fix the underlying issue—not just make you feel good for a few hours. The goal is lasting improvement in how you move and how much pain you’re in day to day.
Most people see meaningful improvement within 4 to 8 weeks of consistent treatment, which usually means 8 to 16 sessions depending on your condition.
Acute pain—something that just started recently—often responds faster. Chronic pain that’s been going on for months or years typically takes longer because your body has adapted to moving in ways that protect the painful area, and we need time to retrain those patterns.
After your initial evaluation, we’ll give you a realistic timeline based on what we’re seeing and what the research says about your specific condition. Some people feel better quickly and just need a few sessions to maintain their progress. Others benefit from ongoing treatment to manage long-term conditions.
We adjust the plan as you improve. If something’s not working, we change the approach. If you’re progressing faster than expected, we don’t drag it out.
Yes. We bring all the equipment to your home and provide the full treatment right there—no need to travel off-island or arrange transportation.
In-home therapy makes sense for Shelter Island residents because getting to appointments on the mainland means planning around the ferry, dealing with traffic, and losing half your day. When you’re already in pain, that’s not realistic.
We schedule appointments that work around your life, and we show up on time. You get the same quality of care you’d receive in a clinic, but in your own space where you’re comfortable. For many of our patients, especially those over 60, that convenience makes the difference between actually doing therapy consistently and giving up after a few sessions.
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