Spotlight On: Myofascial Cupping
What is Myofascial Cupping?
Myofascial cupping is a modality of soft tissue manipulation which involves applying cups to the skin and using suction to create a negative pressure zone within the cup. This places a decompressive force which lifts up the tissues underneath such as, the skin, muscle, fascia, blood and lymph fluid. It is generally used in conjunction with other soft tissue manipulation techniques such as: Deep tissue, Myofascial release, Trigger Point Therapy and PNF stretching.
What are the benefits of Myofascial Cupping?
Some of the benefits of Myofascial Cupping include:
Improved blood flow to the superficial layering of connective tissue which is nourishing for the skin.
Increase the range of motion and flexibility of joints and muscles.
Breakdown of fascial Adhesions which cause pain and restrictive movements.
Improve the circulation of Lymph fluid around the body increasing the quality of waste removal.
What can you expect in a Myofascial Cupping treatment?
Myofascial cupping has a variety of methods in which it can be approached, each with its own advantages which can be utilised to specifically treat an area of concern.
Static Cupping- Involves the use of cups by placing them on the skin with suction without moving the cup or the client, this is beneficial for decreasing pain sensitivity in the area and by releasing myofascial trigger points which reside in fascia - Generally useful for people with radiating pain caused by trigger points or hypertonic tissue.
Slide Cupping- Involves placing cups on the skin and gliding it along the muscle belly, usually along the grain of the muscle fibres/fascia, this can be used to decrease fascial adhesions underneath the skin that are creating movement issues, helps to improve blood circulation in the immediate area - This can be helpful for people who experience range of motion issues and muscular tightness.
Functional Cupping - Involves placing cups on specific muscles the therapist has identified through assessments and palpation to be weak and dysfunctional. This requires the client to move in a specific way in order to improve muscle activation, improve awareness of their body, increase range of motion, improve dysfunctional movement quality, and decrease pain on specific movements - This is generally useful for people who have dysfunctional movements which are used in everyday activities, such as bending down to tie your shoes or reaching for the top shelf. It can also be beneficial for athletes who desire to improve on specific sporting techniques and movement patterns.
Myofascial Cupping may not be suitable for everyone, so its important that you let your therapist know if you have any of the following symptoms or conditions:
Extreme cold or flu
Aggressive tumours (malignant)
Short term Musculoskeletal injury
Deep vein thrombosis
Hypersensitive skin
Herniated and bulging disc
Written by Josiah Oliveri
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