What is all the fuss about??
Myofascial Cupping is a modified practice of the Ancient Eastern style which traditionally uses the Chinese meridian system for placement. Myofasical cupping incoporates the musculature and fasical system of the body, targeting the musculoskeletal system using plastic cups and a hand operated vacuum pump. The vacum "draws" in the soft tissue layers below the skin, providing a tensile force which lifts the tissues increasing blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the area.
Alongside sports massage, it can support treatment for back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sports injuries, strains, sprains, knee pain, impair mobility & flexibility, postural dysfunction etc
Other benefits include ....
🔷️ Increases nutrient-rich blood supply to injured area
🔷️ Increases fluid movement which assists in recovery ie; decreased oedema (fluid accumulation)
🔷️ Supports reduction of localized inflammation and aids recovery
🔷️ Passively stretches tissues, softening tissues and reducing restrcitions in movement
🔷️ Reducing Scarring after injury - correctly align collagen and assist the reduction of localised inflammation and aids recovery by increasing nutrient during the repair phase of an injury (sub-acute phase)
🔷️Reduction in pain through a reduction in sympathetic nerve response and increased parasympathetic nerve response (relaxation effect)
🔷️Brings Heat to tissues, providing the pain and relaxing properties of heat therapy
🔷️Separate layers of connective tissue to bring hydration and blood flow to body tissues – improving healing and reducing restrictions
🔷️Increase the range of movement and flexibility in joints
🔷️Move stagnations of lactic acid and metabolic waste and enable normal lymphatic flow to promote healthy circulation to help strengthen the immune system
How does it work?
Using massage techniques, the area of muscualr restriction and tension are located. The Myofascial cups are then applied either by moving the cups in a gliding motion over the skin surface, or on a specific area (as seen in video). It is a highly effective therapy even if the cups are not left on for very long.
The Myofascial cups I will be using are plastic. They are placed on the skin, sealed with a layer of massage wax. The Vacuum pump is placed on top of the cup and "sucks" the air out of the cup, pulling up the tissue it is placed upon. It is then released by pulling the small red button on the top.
Myofascial cupping works by compressing the muscle, fascia and other tissues. The suction produces a negative pressure/tensile stress that causing capillary dilatation - which creates the reddish coloured circles known as "ecchymosis" which research has indicated as therapeutically beneficial.
Cupping works by stimulating the inhibitory neural pathways, altering pain thresholds, promoting blood circulation, relieving swelling and increasing tissue temperature. Research indicates that this reduces discomfort in the target tissues relieving chronic pain and improving quality of life. Additionally, cupping effects the lymphatic system, increasing blood flow/lymph flow to tissues, helping in the removal of waste materials from the muscle fibers and increasing nutrients to aid healing and recovery. Fascial adhesions are released aiding in improved mobility, range of movement and athletic performance alongside a reduction in pain.
What to expect during a treatment?
1. Area is warmed up and prepared for deeper tissue work
2. Deeper massage techniques may be used for a time before to assess areas where cupping may be applicable
3. Cups can then be applied to specific area as assess
4. Depending on need, can be left static, movement incorporated of body or specific cups or using my other techniques such as muscle energy technique for the WOW effect!!
5. Cups removed and then area massaged gently
Treatment with movement
During your treatment, you will be encouraged to move around after the cups are applied. Depending on the problem that is being treated will depend on the movement. The images and video demonstrate examples. It can also be adapted to the movement required during certain sporting activties. For example swimmers can have cups applied to their shoulders and then go through their swimming strokes to support targetted myofascial release specific to problem areas interfering with performance.
What are the marks or as I like to call it the "cup kiss"
Myofascial cupping leaves circular marks on the body after treatment but they are NOT bruises. Bruises are caused by trauma which cause damage to the capillaries and soft tissues through signifciant compression. But cupping does the complete opposite, lifting and pulling the skin resulting in blood being pulled into the area resulting in the colour.
But whats in a colour??
The colour of the marks vary from very pale to dark purple (as shown in pictures). From the ancient Cupping practices, Chinese practitioners speak about the colour indicating the "health" of the tissues.
With very pale non existance marks indicating an area of "weakness" as opposed to an area of tightness or tension where their is a musculoskeletal imblance causing the pain - which is common in over stretched or "locked long" tissues.
With the very dark purple cupping marks indicating an area of "stagnation" of "tension" often appearing on areas of tightness or tension where their overly contracted tissues are causing the pain - which is common in over shortened tissues or "locked short" tissues.
For example - the client in the photo regularly strength trains so undergoes intensive sessions of lifting serious weightage creating strength in the soft tissues but often get restricted in his mobility and flexibity as a result!! Therefore his tissues often get overly contracted and need support to release and create movement - which resulted in the dark purple "cup kisses". Client spoke about better movement and mobility even just after the session of sports massage, myofascial cupping, soft tissue release and muscle energy techniques
Does it hurt?
Having experienced myself alongside about 5/6 clients this week there is a level of discomfort!! As with all things sports massage related. If it is painful then it can be tailored to decrease this. All clients have found it a surprisingly pleasant experience as the discomfort levels are tailored to your own level of tolerance. A scale from 1 - 5 is used, with keeping discomfort level at about a 2/3 level which is all in your control.
Feedback
"My back feels incredible after the massage and cupping"
"I feel much freer in my training and movements since massage and cupping, meaning that I have reached new personal best today"
" I thought it would hurt, but it was a very pleasant experience, area felt nice and warm after and my shoulder felt much better straight after and still 4 weeks after treatment".
Myofascial Cupping is incoporated into your treatment time if appropriate for your treatment needs. So get booking!!
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