What is Cupping?

With high performing athletes jumping on board with this myofascial technique, cupping has become more well known in the western eye and is now a sort after therapy to help keep our bodies functioning at their best. But what is actually going when we use this technique in one of your treatments?
Cupping helps us provide a superficial and deep fascia release helping increase blood flow, lymphatic flow and range of motion.

So lets start with fascia. What is it and what does it do for our bodies?
Fascia is a continuous connective tissue or web covering that encompasses our bones, muscles, tissues and organs. To explain it a little better if you think of an orange, it is like the white pip that covers the orange segments.

It’s made up of various cells, proteins, ions and water that enables essential processes like diffusion of nutrients and our waste products (which is a process of how substances move in and out of our cells). Fascia also provides feedback to our Central Nervous System (CNS) as it has mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors.

When our fascia has become very tight, myotherapists are looking for either densification or fibrosis in the fibres.

The difference between densification and fibrosis is that densification is when there is reduced space in between collagen layers and therefore reduces the ability for layers to glide on each other. Densification can occur from a poor diet, exercise and overuse syndromes that cause an alteration of loose connective tissue inside the deep fascia causing fascial densification.

Fibrosis is when excessive collagen is deposited during the repair process or in the presence of inflammation. Causes of this are typically from trauma, surgery and diabetes. Its often difficult to modify because only a local inflammatory process can destroy the pathological collagen fibres and permit depostion of new collagen fibres.

As myotherapists we can modify mechanical properties of the extra cellular matrix (which is a three-dimensional network consisting of macromolecules and minerals that make up our tissues) by increasing temperature, local strain and mechanical stimulus, and as such can reverse densification. However, formation of fibrosis can only be avoided if early mobilization occurs to deep fasciae.

There are many myofascial techniques that can help with this, massage being one, but this is were cupping can really work it's magic!

Cupping is where we place cups on the skin to create suction and a control vacuum within the cup. What will happen is the fascia and skin are lifted against gravity towards the suction giving myofascial release. The negative pressure that is inside the cup creates movement that has direct effects on our superficial and deep fascia which is going to improve lymphatic drainage by eliminating waste products, has a positive effect on our CNS by stimulating local skin receptors and encourages oxygen rich blood flow and fluid circulation to the surrounding tissues by dilating and relaxing the blood vessels. This is going to promote improved muscle and fascial flexibility, stretching and nourishment. As such, it is a great technique for muscle performance, recovery and pain management.

There are a few warnings with cupping so the below points are important for you to consider prior to your treatment. Ladies, if you have an event to go that's a bit fancy in the weeks following your appointment, please think about the bruising that can occur.

Some of the side effects are:
- Can leave bruises or marks that can last for up to 5 days to 3 weeks.
- You can experience temporary light-headedness, dizziness or nausea post treatment
- If cupping whilst in the sitting position fainting may occur but is rare.

Contraindications for this treatment are the following:
- Those that are experiencing high emotional state such as anxiety, panic attack or depression
- If you have a temperature
- Skin infections
- If you believe you are dehydrated or have prolonged diarrhoea
- Lymphatic cancer or any tumours
- Children
- Inflamed organs or bleeding
- Blood disorders
- DVT
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Before any treatment your treating practitioner will always consent for treatment and can help you answer any questions that you have about this style of treatment. It works great in combination with other remedial techniques and is a quick myofascial release. 
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In health,
Carly
Myotherapist (Senior Remedial Massage Therapist)/Owner