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Gua sha, cupping and IASTM can leave similar marks, but they are different techniques with different backgrounds. Here is a plain comparison.

Three techniques, often grouped together

Cupping, gua sha and the instrument-assisted soft tissue technique known as IASTM sometimes appear side by side in the same blog post or sports-recovery video. They can leave similar marks, but they involve different actions and come from different clinical frameworks. Seeing them lumped together can give the false impression that the research behind them, their risks and what people can expect are interchangeable.

A quick comparison

• Gua sha uses a smooth-edged tool stroked across lubricated skin, an approach rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.
• Cupping uses suction from glass, plastic or silicone cups placed on the skin, also with roots in traditional practice.
• IASTM uses shaped instruments within a modern manual-therapy framework, commonly seen in physiotherapy and sports settings.

Asking which method is proposed

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, offers gua sha and cupping at the Freshwater clinic, popular with active locals from Manly and Balgowlah. When discussing care, ask which method she has in mind and what you are likely to feel. Mention how much pressure you can tolerate and any skin reactions you have had before.

Whatever the method is called, what counts is understanding what will be done, why it is being suggested and how to call a halt if it feels like too much.

Following up on what counts

Before your session, settle on something concrete, like a stiff neck after surfing, to talk about next time. That follow-up should cover how the treatment felt and how your skin healed. Colour on the skin is a single clue, and carrying on should hinge on your purpose, your experience and the choices available.

Clarity before contact

If you have tried one of these techniques elsewhere, for example after a surf or a run, tell Christine what was used and how you found it. That history helps you both talk clearly about what might happen next in Freshwater.