Dynamic Cupping and How It Fits Into Your Recovery and Pain Relief.

What Is Cupping? 

Cupping therapy is a form of ancient Chinese medical therapy dating back thousands of years. Basically, heat is used to create pressure inside the ‘cups’, now achievable through pressure valves without heat, which draws the superficial soft tissues (skin, fascia, and maybe muscles) up into the cups...all in the name of greater circulation and pain relief. 

The Newest Form Of Cupping Therapy.

Taking a tried and true form of therapy and adding movement, this is what the modern landscape of manual therapy looks like.  With cupping, this is no different….enter DYNAMIC CUPPING.

While cupping therapy has its benefits, clinically we have found that incorporating movement, specifically, a full range of motion and sport-specific movements during cupping can help relieve pain and improve the needed movements to return to play and activity faster.  

At Athletic Kneads, Dynamic cupping is utilized in 2 ways.  

One is to place the cups in the desired area of injury. The practitioner will then glide and move the cups around with the intention of affecting the underlying tissue with improved circulation and adhesion release.

The second option is to affix the cups in the desired location and then have the patient progress through a series of movements and specific sports related actions.

Conditions That Respond Well To Dynamic Cupping.

Treatment plans for care and actual therapies used should be case specific.  That being said, dynamic cupping has shown to be beneficial in relieving pain and speeding recovery from low back pain, neck pain, hip pain, shin splints, IT band syndrome, Achilles tendonitis, rotator cuff strains, shoulder pain, as well as many other musculoskeletal complaints.  

How Does Cupping Work?

• Improved circulation.

• Hallmarked by the circular bruise post-treatment, as the tissue is pulled up into the cup, capillary beds begin to swell and break (mildly), leading to an increase in blood flow.

• Mild Inflammatory Response

• Anytime tissue is damaged, intentionally or unintentionally, the body begins a cascading response that causes what we call inflammation. Inflammation carries the cells needed to heal damaged tissue and in this case, we intentionally apply suction to mildly damage capillary beds and move soft tissue, in turn causing a mild inflammatory response with the goal of increased recovery and shortened time.

• Tissue Movement & Decompression

• As a manual therapist, most treatment modalities utilize pressure or the pressing in on a tissue. Cupping is one of the few that is decompressive in nature as it pulls the skin and superficial tissue away from the body. While the debate is still out, utilizing dynamic cupping can help relieve pain and restricted motion by decompressing the tissues and moving them across each other. 

• Clinical Evidence

• As a Massage Therapist that utilizes dynamic cupping therapy with runners, CrossFit athletes, golfers, and hockey players as well as many other athletes. The low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain suffered with desk sitting can also be helped with cupping, it is a great adjunct to many other therapies. At Athletic Kneads while incorporating movement and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) practices with cups in place. We have found that creating the right mix of treatment for the right patient aimed at their specific goals often yields faster than expected results.

We look forward to more data being produced on dynamic cupping as a stand-alone therapy and in conjunction with regular massage, and IASTM therapies.  We have much to learn about the human body and every day is an opportunity to grow and improve. Dynamic cupping could be a great therapy for you and help you achieve your goals and recover faster. 

Book today to get back in the game with dynamic cupping and massage therapy.