Cupping
Cupping is a manual therapy technique used to assist with pain management, decrease muscle or fascia tightness and promote healing.
This is done by attaching plastic, glass, or silicone cups to the skin via suction.
Cupping differs from other manual techniques because it provides a decompressive force to the tissues. This negative pressure draws blood flow to the area which sparks an inflammatory process to promote healing. Typically, the therapist leaves the cups in place or moves them around for 5-10 minutes.
The therapist can also assist the patient with moving through motions that they are having difficulty performing due to pain or tightness. This technique can leave marks on the skin, but each individual is different regarding how long the marks will last. Some marks disappear within a few minutes, and some can last several days.
If you suffer from any of the following, cupping may be able to help:
- Back pain
- Knee pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Arthritis
- Carpal Tunnel
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Fibromyalgia