Dry Myofascial Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is an ancient alternative therapy which dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures. During cupping, therapists apply glass cups to the skin for a few minutes to create suction. The application of cups can be used to treat a variety of conditions, such as:

• Muscle pain and tension
• Reduced joint movement
• Headaches
• Back pain and sciatica
• Stress and anxiety

During dry cupping, the cups are placed over several areas to create a vacuum which lifts the soft tissue and creates an upward stretch within the muscle and associated fascia. This vacuum lift helps to increase blood flow and induces a stretch effect, which results in a reduction in muscle tension and associated pain. Cups can either be left in a static position or moved to provide a deep tissue massage effect. Dry cupping works well in conjunction with traditional sports and deep tissue massage, as the lifting effect provided by the cups works synergistically with the downward pressure application of manual massage.

Dry Cupping helps aid soft tissue injuries and reduce pain or discomfort by:

• Increasing localised circulation,
• Increasing oxygenation and nutrient content within the tissue,
• Removing stagnant blood and waste products,
• Re-initiating the healing process to micro-trauma,
• Stretches fascia and connective tissue, which leads to a relaxation response.