Cupping therapy increases blood flow, decrease tightness in muscles and fascia, and encourages healing. A special type of cup is placed on the problem area creating a vacuum, which increases circulation. The cups are placed on trigger points such as knots or swollen muscles. Cupping can be used to treat pinched nerves, tight muscles or back pain and reduce swelling.  Cups can also be used with body motion or with the therapist moving the cup on over the tissues.

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What is Cupping Therapy?

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Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine.  The physical therapist places special cups on the skin to create suction. Cupping is a type of deep-tissue massage utilized to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, and to promote relaxation and well-being.

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The benefits of cupping are similar to those of massage including:

• Decreased pain

• Promotion of healing

• Improved blood flow

• Improved range of motion

• Break-up of adhesions/scar tissue

• Improve lymph flow

• Decrease swelling

• Decrease bruising

• Increase tissue flexibility

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Benefits of Cupping vs Traditional Massage Techniques

 

Traditional massage techniques include compression of a patient’s muscles and connective tissues while cupping therapy techniques decompress patients’ muscles and connective tissues. This decompression effect can be more beneficial as it allows separation between muscles and the surrounding connective tissues.

The negative pressure created from cupping results in improved blood flow and the release of hormones (kinin, histamine, prostaglandins, serotonin, etc.), which helps to stimulate the healing process. The negative pressure helps to destroy latent (non-functional) blood and lymphatic capillaries, thereby leading to the regeneration of new capillary beds. These effects result in an increased supply of oxygen/nutrients to the area and helps with toxin removal.

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If you would like to learn more about cupping or talk about how it my benefit you, call our office today.

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