Cupping has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. It is used in TCM to stimulate specific points on the skin which correspond to acupuncture points that lie on energy meridians, or pathways. Through manipulation of the points on the skin, the TCM practitioner can influence or change a specific organ’s blood or energy called Qi (chi). I am not a TCM practitioner. I am a western practitioner with a great respect for eastern treatment philosophy. There are many types of cupping methods and I practice Dynamic Cupping.
This process begins with a light lubrication of the skin to create an airtight seal between your skin and the cup. A silicone and/or polycarbonate cup is applied to create a negative pressure within the cup which “sucks” the skin up into the cup. The intensity of the negative pressure depends on the tolerance of the patient. The goal is to pre-stretch the skin and underlying fascia and then to have you slowly move through controlled range of motion exercises in order to increase the effectiveness of the stretch. This is the “dynamic” part of the cupping method. Cupping therapy should NOT be painful! You should experience a warm, pulling sensation during the treatment which lasts around 5-6 minutes. Cupping therapy can improve blood flow and lymphatic drainage. TCM practitioners talk about the release of energy “stagnation” via cupping therapy.
Yes, you will have cupping marks on your skin for several days after a treatment. The color and response to the cupping is dependent on the extent of stiffness or the extent of “stagnation” at the treatment site as well as the amount of time that the cups are in place. TCM practitioners believe that the skin is a mirror of our health. All skin marks that appear as a result of cupping therapy are usually not painful. The discoloration is a result in a change of blood flow through the area. It is not traumatic “bruising”. There is no external or internal damage inflicted to the skin and the capillaries do not leak as a result of injury due to trauma. The “bruised” areas will turn yellow green before totally fading away.
Cupping therapy is typically performed along side other manual techniques such as pump massage, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and Active Release Technique. It is a good way to further mobilize the tissues after the other manual therapy techniques. It is just another treatment technique that we offer at Equilibrium Physical Therapy to get you better…faster!