MYOFASCIAL CUPPING

Myofascial cupping is a soft tissue therapy that encourages healing by creating a negative pressure or suction on the skin using plastic or glass cups that pull up underlying tissues, blood and other fluids close to the surface of the skin.

Myofascial cupping does not use scalpels or needles.

While many assume that cupping originated in China with traditional Chinese medicine, the earliest records of cupping date back to Egypt in 1550 BC, where it was mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus. Egyptians are believed to have introduced it to the Greeks around 400 BC.

The earliest recorded use of cupping in Asian medical systems dates back to a Taoist alchemist and herbalist who lived from 281 to 341 AD. Eventually, cupping was spread to the Americas and to Europe.

Cupping has increased in popularity and is used as an integrative therapy in modern medicine.  Myofascial cupping is often incorporated into other manual therapy techniques, such as massage therapy, myofascial release, trigger point therapy and other injury rehabilitation techniques.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT

A myofascial cupping treatment uses a combination of massage strokes and negative pressure to lift, separate and stretch underlying soft tissues.  Cupping is typically applied on the neck, shoulders, back, sacrum, hip, abdomen, thigh, calves and upper arms.

Areas of musculoskeletal tension or congestion are located using massage techniques and cups may be applied on an affected area and moved over the surface in a gliding motion or possibly put on a fascial adhesion or trigger point for a short time to reduce or eliminate it.

Cupping procedures may leave light to dark red marks on the skin that disappear in 5 to 10 days.  It is important to drink plenty of water after a treatment in order to rehydrate the affected areas.