What is Cupping?

Well for starters, cupping has been around for centuries. It started in ancient Chinese medicine where they used fire to adhere glass cups to the body. Kind of cool, right? Fast forward to present day, we use it via suction methods. Sorry, no fire. This post discusses who uses cupping, what it’s used for, if there are any side effects, and a few other fun facts thrown in the mix. 

Who Uses It?

The most common professionals to utilize cupping are acupuncturists, chiropractors, and physical therapists. These types of practitioners use manual therapy or soft tissue treatments, and this falls right into the mix. If you remember several years ago at the Olympics, Michael Phelps had what looked like octopus suction marks all over his shoulder. Well that was from cupping. His physical therapist used it to help treat him before his races, and if I remember right he did pretty well! 

What Is Cupping Used For? 

It addresses and helps with several things such as blood flow, inflammation, pain, relaxation, and tissue tone. A vacuum is created when the tissue gets suctioned into the cup. That negative pressure promotes blood flow, which in turn decreases inflammation. It also down-regulates tissue tone and pain sensation in the affected area. As a result, issues like muscle soreness and tightness, trigger points, and general pain in an area are treated relatively successfully in combination with other therapies.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Manual therapy techniques such as dry needling, massage, Graston Technique, or cupping have very few risks associated with them. However, some bruising and soreness may occur. These usually go away within a day or so after treatment. Overall cupping is a very safe and effective therapy. While extensive research has not been done on cupping. Anecdotally, it has been suggested to help with conditions from acne to asthma.

So to recap, manual therapy practitioners tend to use cupping. It helps with pain management, and there are very few side effects. If you’re interested in trying it out, we offer cupping at Elite Sport and Spine. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have! You can schedule a free consultation online, contact us here, or call (262) 373-9168.