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Cupping Therapy

Cupping is a form of alternative therapy by which cups are placed on the skin to create suction. It’s a treatment that releases stagnation, pain, and discomfort from the body as well as softens tight muscles and joints. The cups may be left in one place for a set amount of time (which may leave the classic circle shapes behind) while massage is applied to another part of the body, or they may be used to do the massage itself by gliding them on the skin around areas of known tightness or discomfort.

Benefits

Cupping Therapy can be extremely helpful in pain relief.  The negative pressure allows for a deeper release of adhesive tissue when coupled with the softening techniques from manual therapy. Together they can benefit several chronic conditions such as:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/ Tennis Elbow/ Frozen Shoulder or any such injury due to overuse

Low Back Pain/ Sciatic/ Hip Pain

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Arthritis and Joint Pain

Headaches, Back and Neck Pain

Contraindications

Cupping Therapy will affect the body the same as a deep tissue massage.  You may be sore the next day (like after a hard workout), but that will fade within a day or two.  Cupping should be a pleasant experience.  Some discomfort may occur, but it should not be painful.

Cupping Therapy is extremely beneficial, but there are circumstances where it is not recommended.  These include (but are not limited to):

Burns to the skin including sunburn

Open wounds/broken skin

Skin that tears or bruises easily (includes people taking blood thinners)

Broken bones, dislocated joints, or slipped discs