Cupping

Cupping May Help Relieve Your Pain

While the popularity of cupping has risen dramatically in recent years, it is not a new technique. In fact, the ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures originally used it. 

Cupping is a form of treatment for pain relief that has been around for an incredibly long time – in fact, centuries! 

Cupping is an ancient type of alternative medicine that is carried out by placing cups on the skin  to create suction.

It is used today as a means of relieving pain, encouraging relaxation, improving blood flow, and easing inflammation. 

Request an appointment at NYC Wellness today to find out more about how cupping can benefit you.

Is cupping right for me?

While there are some doubts about cupping, there is real science behind the technique. The suction within the cups produces negative pressure, which helps to increase hydration and blood flow to body tissues, alleviate bondage, and eliminate excess fluids. 

If you need lymphatic drainage or deep tissue massage, it is a versatile treatment that can be customized to your condition. 

It is important to bear in mind that cups are not a method of treatment involving wounds, infections, burns, or active skin inflammation. 

Cupping can also cause bruises that can last on the skin for up to two weeks. Bruises typically repair themselves over time and are not something to worry about.

Benefits of cupping

Cupping may often be described as a technique of “tissue distraction release”. 

In order to raise and isolate tissue, the cups are glided over distinct areas of the body during the cupping process. This works to increase the release of the neural tissues, fascia, skin, ligaments, muscles, and tendons interfaces. It relaxes muscles, releases trigger points, stimulates lymphatic flow, increases local circulation, and releases adhesion of scar tissue. 

For many disorders, such as chronic neck pain, low back pain, and fibromyalgia, evidence supports cupping as an effective treatment technique. 

Three types of this techniques are available: longitudinal, cross-fiber, and circular. Longitudinal is the most common form, where the cup is longitudinally glided across the fibers of the muscle. 

Cross fiber is used when it is believed that the tissue is scarred. Circular is typically used at the end of the session, in order to ensure that all areas were covered.

It is no secret that the practice of cupping among athletes is common and widespread. In fact, this was used by several athletes from the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

After a three-minute cupping session, a running patient with over a year of iliotibial band (ITB) pain experienced immediate relief. A week later, the procedure was replicated.

He was symptom-free after just two cupping sessions and returned to his normal running schedule.

What is a cupping treatment like?

This is a fairly complex technique.  Our New York physical therapist will begin by putting a flammable material into the cup and setting it on fire. This substance may be something like alcohol or herbs. 

The cup will be put upside down on your skin once the fire has subsided. It produces a vacuum as the air in the cup starts to cool, causing the skin to rise and blood vessels to expand. 

Rubber pumps will be used instead of fire to produce the vacuum in some of the more modern methods, and silicone cups are often used to create a massage effect.

Want to learn more about cupping?

There are several benefits to cupping. It can boost your skin health, help with respiratory issues, and even improve digestion.  It is also used to speed up the recovery time of certain injuries and ailments, in addition to reducing symptoms.

Are you currently in New York with an injury or health condition that is limiting you from living your life the way you want? It’s time to take control of your health; start by requesting an appointment with NYC Wellness and figure out if cupping is right for you!