What is cupping therapy and how can it help you?
Ever seen those perfectly round red or purple marks on people at yoga? Michael Phelps got the buzz going at the 2008 Olympics when he showed up for his events with dark circular spots all over his upper back and shoulders. This was the result of a therapy called cupping which has become more mainstream over the years.
What is cupping and how can it help you? Let’s break down this popular treatment we perform regularly at Empower Physio and Wellness.
What is cupping therapy?
Cupping is an ancient technique that uses plastic, glass, or silicone cups to suction the skin, fascia, and muscle, allowing for decompression of a particular area. It’s used to increase blood flow by pulling blood to the surface, stimulating the healing process, and decreasing pain. It’s also used to improve soft tissue mobility in parts of the body where there’s pain or tension, especially the neck, shoulders, back, glutes, or calves.
At our practice, we often use cupping in combination with other modalities to treat:
Headaches
Neck and shoulder pain
Low back and hip pain
Knee pain
Plantar fasciitis
IT Band tightness and pain
Muscle tightness and pain
Exercise and running related injuries
How does it work?
There are multiple ways to perform this type of therapy and we tailor each treatment to the individual client. We typically use plastic cups and typically start with the cups in place while you lay down and relax.
This is static cupping, where we leave the cups in place while you relax!
Sometimes, we then have you move with the cups on, performing gentle range of motion exercises. This accentuates the gains in tissue mobility, blood flow, and pain reduction.
This is cupping with movement, or myofascial decompression. We have you move with the cups on to maximize the benefit you get from the treatment.
Alternatively, silicone cups may sometimes be used dynamically, meaning you can glide them along the skin. They typically have less suction power but can effectively address larger areas of tissue tension.
Is cupping right for you?
If you have acute or chronic muscle tension or pain in an area of the body that has not resolved with other techniques like massage, foam rolling, or gentle stretching, it may be time to try cupping. If you’ve are experiencing bruising in the area, a fracture, or a severe muscle tear, cupping may not be the right treatment for you. A physical therapist may also be cautious if you’re on a blood thinner and bruise easily or do not have good sensation in the area of the body.
Where to find physical therapy and cupping treatment
Are you looking for cupping treatment or wondering if it could help you?
If you are located in or near Westerville, Ohio we can help you with physical therapy and cupping treatment!
You can get started right away by learning more about our cupping services or getting in contact with us.
If you have additional questions, we would love to talk with you, hear your story, answer all your questions, and see how we could help.
You can call or text us at (614) 423-9731 or schedule a free discovery call. You can also learn more about Empower Physio and Wellness + our team or check out other services we offer.