Cupping Therapy  or Myofascial Decompression Therapy 

         

Cupping therapy made headlines during the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio, when Michael Phelps appeared with the tell-tale signs of this therapy, large purple and red circular marks.  Since then, and along with other celebrities posting about it on social media, it has gained in popularity. However, it is hardly a new fad. Cupping therapy, also known as “Myofascial Decompression Therapy” is an ancient form of alternative medicine dating back at least 3,500 years to China, Egypt, Greece, and Middle Eastern regions.

In those days, cups were made of animal horns, bamboo, and earthen ware. Today we use glass, silicone, or hard density plastic.  Traditional healers, acupuncturists, herbalists, and massage therapists all may do some form of cupping.

What is Cupping?

 

The simplest definition is that cupping is a therapeutic application of cups directly on a client’s skin. They create a vacuum or suction against the skin and the tissue beneath in that specific spot. The cups are left for several minutes, and the vacuum pressure can be modified to create greater or lesser suction. Good healthy communication between the massage therapist and client is of course important. In addition to leaving cups on location, they can also be glided along the client’s skin providing movement of the fascia and fluids in that area.

What are the benefits of cupping?

 

Benefits of cupping may include pain relief from muscular tightness, arthritis, and entrapment syndromes, and it can improve lymphatic drainage when done properly.  A client can expect to feel an increase in pressure in the location, but most report the sensation to be “relieving” or “good”. It may feel as light as other lymphatic drainage techniques or like deep tissue methods.  On occasion there may be a slight burning sensation or even an ache. Immediate relief ought to be the main quality of sensation one would be looking for. The ache or burn should not last more than 30 seconds.

Often when a client complains of a tight specific spot, many times in the areas of the upper back around the shoulder blades, the muscular tissue may feel hard, immobile and ischemic (lacking blood flow). Cupping therapy is wonderful and quick and relieves this type of tension.

A therapist can cover more areas simultaneously when applying cupping therapy. For example, cups can be left on locations in the upper back, and massage can be applied to the lower back and lower extremities.

After Treatment

 

Post-treatment, a client can expect to be left with those “notorious” circular marks, which are caused by the bursting of small capillaries. The bruise-like discoloration should not hurt, and they will heal on their own in 7 to 10 days.

While it is generally considered safe, it is not recommended for all. People with epilepsy, hemophilia, blood thinners, history of stroke, seniors with frail skin, children, those with skin conditions such as eczema, and psoriasis (mainly in those affected areas).

Try something new and see if your body responds well to this form of healing.