What is myofascial cupping?
Myofascial cupping is incorporated as an adjunct treatment to osteopathic treatment. Cupping therapy is based around the principle that suction from the cups draws the skin up and mobilises blood and energy around the body, encouraging the body’s natural healing process.
Cupping involves the skin and muscles being pulled into the cup, rather than compressed – much like a reverse massage or reverse pressure on the body. This causes increased blood flow to the affected area, which in turn helps to nourish and deliver oxygen to the tissues and encouraging the healing process with the therapeutic aim of removing congestion and pain.
What types of cupping are there?
There are two main types of cupping – mobile cupping and fixed cupping. Mobile Cupping involves massage oil being applied to the area prior to applying the cup. The cup is moved along the skin to treat the affected area. Fixed Cupping is used when a tight spot is encountered. The cups are applied directly to the site of pain or dysfunction and left there for 3-5 minutes. Fixed cupping may leave marks that look like perfectly round bruises but they are normal and should disappear within a couple of days. Cupping suction can be achieved by various mechanisms including heat or via a pump.