Cupping

Cupping has a long history dating all the way back to 1550 BC and evolved with the Chinese. Most people have recognized cupping in more recent years with Michael Phelps utilizing the therapy during the 2016 Olympics in Rio. He donned his suction marks from cupping in the pool and the world went crazy trying to figure out what this was. Cupping therapy in our office is done with hard plastic cups and vacuum suction that draw up the skin, muscle, fascia. The cups can be left still for a few minutes or can also be glided across the skin to provide a massage-like effect. Depending on the patient, the cup can leave behind a circle-shaped bruise that is not painful.

Cupping therapy helps release the tightness within the muscles by drawing up the layers of the skin, muscle, and fascia. Blood flow is increased underneath the cup to help fast-track the process of decreasing inflammation and reducing pain. The massage-like gliding can help to release knots along the muscle. When left on for a period of time, the cups typically have a therapeutic relaxing effect for the patient.