Cupping

Cupping is a technique that involves applying suction cups to the outside of the skin using negative pressure to create a distraction of the tissue for remarkable therapeutic benefit.

Cupping is a non-invasive treatment that has been shown to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing and wellness. Most often we are compressing muscles and tissue through massage, foam rollers, lacrosse balls, massage guns and other various tools. Cupping takes a different approach by drawing the underlying tissues upwards creating a distraction and tensile stress to the tissue.

This tensile stress is advantageous in that it increases blood flow to assist the healing process of injured tissue. The body will then build a new microcirculatory network and break down the old nonfunctioning structure. In addition to promoting healing, cupping has been shown to increase tissue elasticity, decrease muscle stiffness, decrease fascial tightness, increase range of motion and flexibility as well as reduce pain. When used judiciously and in conjunction with other evidence-based interventions, cupping has shown to be an excellent tool in our therapist’s toolbox.