Myofascial Cupping
Cupping is a therapeutic technique associated with Eastern medicine. A negative pressure is created inside the cup, thereby creating a vacuum inside the cup. Due to this vacuum, the cup pulls the skin/muscles towards it, sucking up into it. This gives a very relaxing effect on the nervous system, similar to that of an actual massage. If the suction is kept strong, it creates an effect of the rolling/stripping action experienced in deep tissue massage. After a few minutes, the skin turns red which indicates that the suction has brought the blood circulation to the surface of the skin. The increased blood flow benefits the skin and muscles and nourishes them and flushes out biproducts and waste through the circulatory system.
Cupping’s most potent impact by far is its tried-and-true ability to optimize circulation. Increased blood flow to all areas of your body provides a number of important health improvements, from cell growth and organ function to the appearance of your skin. Red blood circulates oxygen throughout your body, and the more efficiently that happens, the better you’ll look and feel.
By bringing fresh blood to the surface of your skin, cupping can:
- Open the chest and lungs
- Alleviate menstrual cramps
- Decrease digestive problems
- Clear up coughs, and/or other respiratory problems
- Help migraines
- Help decrease inflammation
- Manage acute and chronic pain
- Cupping massage affects the muscles, blood, lymphatic and nervous system
- Can promote mental and physical relaxation and well-being
A myofascial cupping treatment helps improve circulation, decrease trigger points and hypertonic muscles, helping achieve a deep pain relief & overall stretch in the muscles.
Treatments are customizable to our patients needs, and can focus on back, neck, shoulders, hips, gluts, limbs, groin and/or feet. Cupping Massage is offered as a 1/2 hour, 3/4 hour or 1 hour Treatment. Cupping is quite stimulating on the sensory nerves and a 1/2 hour treatment tends to be long enough for the first appointment. It's said that the benefits/relief from a 10 minute cupping treatment is equivalent to 1/2 hour of traditional massage.
Treatment commences by the therapist applying lotion/oil by hand, assessing & palpating the areas to see what areas/muscles require treatment. Light - moderate suction strength cups are applied, and moved (glided) around the area being treated, this increases the circulation in the area and feels similar to massage (but in an upward pulling of the muscles). The therapist will then apply some stagnant cups (with varying suction strengths, depending on patients needs, preferences, and pain tolerance) around the area being treated. Cups are commonly placed along muscle attachment sites & in the belly of the muscle, providing a very amazing deep stretch of the muscles & fascia, and increased circulation through the area. Stagnant cups will be left on the treated area anywhere between 5 - 20 minutes. Then some cups will be removed and placed on new areas. Therapist may use as many as 6 - 14 cups during a treatment.
The marks left behind from the cups, resembling a bruise, are not a true bruise, as no blood vessel damage/trauma occurs. The marks don't hurt like a normal bruise either. On average the marks take 7-12 days to disappear, but sometimes they take less or longer, depending on the health of patient and how fast their lymphatic system can remove the blood, waste, by-products of inflammation etc. from the interstitial space. Cupping is great for improving lymphatic circulation & function!
***Cupping is included within the scope of practice of a Registered Massage Therapist. Therefor, when your claiming your cupping massage treatment receipt, it is claimed under the heading, "Massage Therapy". Massage Therapy is covered by most health insurance / extended health benefits. Some plans cover the treatment cost to a maximum set amount, while others will cover a percentage of each visit. Some plans require a Doctors note (prescription) to be able to claim your massage receipts. To know if your treatments will be covered under your health plan, please contact your insurance provider, prior to your first treatment. All of our massage therapists are Registered Massage Therapists (RMT) with the Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan (MTAS).***