Knee osteoarthritis
Across 7 trials, adding dry cupping to standard medical care gave greater improvement in knee pain, stiffness and physical function than medical care alone; wet cupping with standard care improved response rates.
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Hijama cupping for knee pain and stiffness
Short answer: cupping eases knee pain by releasing the tight thigh and calf muscles that load the joint, reducing congestion around it and bringing fresh blood to the area. A review of 7 trials found that adding cupping to standard care gave greater improvement in knee pain, stiffness and function than standard care alone. Most patients find stairs and getting up from a chair easier within a few sessions.
- Stiff knees, stairs and squatting
- Osteoarthritis and old sports injuries
- Works alongside your exercises and medicines
7 trialsKnee osteoarthritis review, 2017
3–4 sessionsTypical course, 1–2 weeks apart
40+ yearsDr. Siddiqui’s hijama practice
₹200Per cup · consultation free
Is this for you?
Patients come to us with
- Pain going up or down stairs
- Stiffness after sitting or first thing in the morning
- Swelling and heat around the knee after activity
- Osteoarthritis (wear and tear) diagnosed by a doctor
- An old sports injury that still aches
- Pain behind the kneecap when squatting or kneeling
- Tight thighs and calves from long standing
How it helps
Why cupping works for knee pain
The knee is moved and protected by the thigh (quadriceps and hamstrings) and calf muscles. When they are tight, they press the joint together and every step hurts more. Cupping lifts and releases these muscles, reduces the puffiness around the joint and improves local circulation — so the knee moves more freely and the pain settles.
We cup around the knee — never directly on the kneecap — and along the thigh and calf. Pair it with the simple strengthening exercises Dr. Siddiqui shows you, and the benefit lasts much longer.
1-minute check
Knee pain: is cupping right for you today?
A few signs need a doctor or X-ray first. Answer honestly — nothing is sent anywhere.
By type of knee pain
What we do for each kind of knee pain
| Knee problem | Where the cups go | Typical course |
|---|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis (wear and tear) | Around the joint, thigh and calf | 3–4 sessions, then top-ups |
| Stiffness after sitting | Thigh muscles above the knee | 3 sessions |
| Pain behind the kneecap | Thigh and around the knee | 3–4 sessions |
| Old sports injury | Thigh, calf and around the joint | 2–4 sessions |
| Tight calves and hamstrings | Back of the thigh and calf | 1–3 sessions |
Never on the kneecap, the back of the knee or varicose veins. See all points on the hijama points chart.
Leg cupping
Treating the whole leg, not just the knee
Knee pain often comes from tight muscles above and below the joint. That is why your cups may go on the thigh and calf as well as around the knee.
Dry cupping is the usual choice around the knee because the skin there is thin; wet cupping is used on the thigh when it suits you.
- Around the knee — never on the kneecap
- Thigh and calf muscles that load the joint
- Short, gentle suction where the skin is thin
- Strengthening advice to keep the benefit
Your visit
What happens at your appointment
About 45–50 minutes, consultation included. Nothing is done before you have been examined.
- 1Consultation
Dr. Saeedul Hasan Siddiqui takes your history, checks medicines and reports, and examines you — free.
- 2Your points
Around the knee, plus the thigh and calf muscles that load the joint — usually about 5 cups.
- 3Cupping
Done by Dr. Siddiqui or our trained therapists under his supervision, with single-use cups and blades. Female therapists for women.
- 4Clean and dress
Skin cleaned and dressed; used items go to clinical waste.
- 5Aftercare and review
Written aftercare, phone support, and a review at your next visit. See the aftercare guide.
At home
Between sessions: keep your knees moving
Do
- Walk a little every day, on flat ground
- Straight-leg raises and gentle thigh squeezes
- Warmth on the knee the day after cupping
- Keep a healthy weight — every kilo helps the knee
Avoid for 24 hours after cupping
- Deep squatting and sitting cross-legged
- Long standing and many stairs
- Running, jumping and the gym (48 hours)
- Very hot water on the cupped area
What research shows
Research on cupping for knee pain
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the conditions where cupping has been tested in randomised trials.
Chronic pain
Across 18 trials and 1,172 patients, cupping produced a large short-term reduction in chronic pain compared with no treatment.
135 clinical trials reviewed
A review of 135 randomised trials found cupping — alone or combined with other treatment — effective for conditions including herpes zoster, facial paralysis, acne and cervical spondylosis, with no serious side effects reported.
Sports and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
A review of 22 studies found evidence that cupping improves soft-tissue flexibility and supports its use for back and neck pain, with a very low rate of side effects.
Trusted by elite athletes
Why Olympic athletes use cupping
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, swimmer Michael Phelps — the most decorated Olympian in history — and other athletes competed with the round marks of cupping on their backs and shoulders. Elite athletes and sports physiotherapists around the world use cupping for muscle recovery, tightness and range of movement between hard training sessions.
The same technique is available at our clinic — with a doctor’s assessment first, single-use cups, and a plan built around your body rather than a fixed package.
- Faster muscle recovery
- Looser, freer movement
- Used by Olympic swimmers since Rio 2016
Session at a glance
- Session length25–35 minutes
- Typical course3–4 sessions, 1–2 weeks apart
- MethodDry cupping around the joint; wet cupping selectively
- AftercareAvoid squatting, stairs and long standing for 24 hours
₹200 per cup — a typical session is about 5 cups (₹1,000), with the consultation included. Your exact number of cups is confirmed after the examination. See prices.
When we will not treat you
- You take blood thinners, or have a bleeding or clotting disorder.
- You are pregnant.
- There is an active skin infection or open wound at the site.
- You have uncontrolled diabetes, severe anaemia, or are undergoing chemotherapy.
If hijama is not the right treatment for your condition, I will tell you at the consultation and refer you to a conventional doctor. I would rather lose a booking than treat someone I should not.
Your doctor
Dr. Saeedul Hasan Siddiqui, B.I.M.S.
Unani physician, B.I.M.S. from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi (1981), with over 40 years of hijama practice in Delhi-NCR. He examines every patient before treatment and supervises every session.
Consultations in Hindi, Urdu, English and Arabic.
- Free consultation with the doctor
- Cupping by him or trained therapists under his supervision
- Female therapists for women
- Single-use cups and sterile blades
FAQ
Hijama for knee pain — your questions
Is cupping good for knee pain?
Yes — a review of 7 trials found that cupping added to standard care improved knee pain, stiffness and function more than standard care alone. Most patients find stairs easier within a few sessions.
Can cupping help knee osteoarthritis?
It eases the pain, stiffness and muscle tightness that come with osteoarthritis, helping you stay active. Wear in the joint itself is managed together with exercise and your doctor’s care.
Where are the cups placed for knee pain?
Around the knee (not on the kneecap), and on the thigh and calf muscles that load the joint.
How many sessions do I need?
Usually 3–4 sessions, 1–2 weeks apart, with occasional top-ups for long-standing arthritis.
Is cupping safe after a knee replacement?
We never cup over surgical sites or implants. Tell us about any surgery; Dr. Siddiqui may treat the surrounding thigh and calf muscles instead.
Wet or dry cupping for the knee?
Dry cupping around the knee, where the skin is thin; wet cupping on the thigh when suitable.
Will I still need painkillers?
Many patients find they need them less. Never stop prescribed medicine without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.
How long does the relief last?
For muscle-driven pain, often weeks; for arthritic knees, regular top-up sessions with strengthening exercises keep the benefit going.
Can older patients have knee cupping?
Yes — many of our knee patients are over 60. Dr. Siddiqui checks your health and medicines first.
How much does it cost?
₹200 per cup, consultation free — usually about 5 cups (₹1,000). Price calculator.
Walk and climb stairs with ease again
Book a free consultation — 100 m from Okhla Vihar metro, Saturday to Thursday, 11 AM–7 PM.