THE INS AND OUTS OF CUPPING
What is Cupping?
By definition Myofascial cupping is a soft tissue therapy that involves the application of decompressed cups on the skin, creating a vacuum effect that lifts up underlying tissues such as the fascia ( connective tissue ) and muscles, blood and other fluid, close to the surface of the skin. By lifting up these tissues, it allows space to increase fluid and hydrate the muscles and fascia.
There are a few techniques that can be used when applying cups
- Myofascial release cupping– This is where the cups are applied and moved around the skin in a gliding motion to help break up any fascial adhesions and help move any stagnant fluid.
- Static cupping/ trigger point cupping – this is where the cup is applied directly onto the trigger point to draw more fluid (blood and lymph) using direct negative pressure.
- Functional cupping– here the cups are applied to specific muscles or fascial chains. The client is then asked to perform certain functional movements to affect a positive change in movement restrictions. This is a newer concept of cupping that has proven very effective for people with limited range of motion.
What do the red/purple circles mean?
No doubt you would have noticed the big red/purple bruise looking circles on some of the athletes in the most recent Tokyo Olympic Games…Well this is the result of a cupping session, and trust me, they look worse than they feel.
Where there is dead, static blood, lymph, cellular debris, pathogenic factors, and toxins present in the body, cupping can leave marks which indicate that the stagnation has been moved from the deeper tissue layers to the surface.
Benefits of cupping:
➔ Increased circulation and promotion of fresh oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood and lymph to the skin and muscles.
➔ Encourages tissues to release toxins and encourages blood flow to help ‘flush’ build up toxins through the lymph system
➔ Reduces inflammation
➔ Rapidly facilitates rigid soft tissue release
➔ Increase range of motion and flexibility
➔ Release muscle spasms
Specific conditions cupping can directly help with:
➔ Scar tissue post-surgical
➔ Plantar fascia or plantar foot pain
➔ Stiffness or tightness in any muscular area’s
➔ Back Pain
➔ Headaches
➔ Neck Pain
➔ Chronic Pain
➔ Jaw Pain (TMJ)
Cupping is done within our standard Myotherapy treatment, if you would like it specifically let us know when you book your appointment and you will be directed to the most appropriate practitioner for your needs.
