Burn Therapy Education: Therapeutic Modalities for Burn Scar: Cupping and Scraping
Join this member-only Burn Therapy Education session to explore cupping and scraping techniques, current evidence, and burn-specific considerations for incorporating these modalities into comprehensive burn scar management.
Login to Register- Location:
- Virtual/Online
- Date:
- December 10, 2026
- Time:
- 1:00pm – 2:00pm (Central Standard Time)
Burn Therapy Education - Therapeutic Modalities for Burn Scar: Cupping and Scraping
Thursday, December 10, 2026 | 1–2 p.m. CT
Explore cupping and scraping, also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), as potential adjuncts in burn scar management. This session will review burn scar physiology and maturation, the proposed mechanisms and clinical applications of these techniques, and current evidence related to scar massage, IASTM, vacuum massage, and cupping. The session will emphasize burn-specific considerations, including grafted skin, immature and hypertrophic scars, altered sensation, skin integrity, precautions, and patient selection. Case examples will demonstrate clinical reasoning and how to integrate these techniques into a comprehensive burn rehabilitation program.
Attendees will gain insight into:
Burn scar physiology and how scar maturity guides manual intervention
Differences between scraping/IASTM and cupping/vacuum techniques
Current evidence for massage, IASTM, and vacuum/cupping approaches
Clinical considerations for technique selection, dosing, precautions, and integration with established scar management interventions
Presenter:
Callie Hayes, OTD, OTR/L, BT-C – UnityPoint Health, West Des Moines, Iowa
Moderator:
Sue Urbanczyk, MS, CAE, PCM - Associate Director, Marketing and Communications, American Burn Association
Audience:
Burn rehabilitation professionals, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other clinicians involved in burn scar management.