top of page
Blog: Blog2

The Benefits of Myofascial Cupping

Oct 21, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Sep 21, 2021

If you are a passionate sports fan you may have noticed some round red or purple sports on some athletes. The most notable athlete rocking those marks was American swimmer Michael Phelps on the Olympic Games of 2016.


These marks are from myofascial cupping, which is widely used in athletic training, physiotherapy and remedial massage clinics. It was recently used in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games for pre- and post – competition recovery and detoxification. Interestingly, cupping is an ancient technique that dates to around 300AD, according to Chinese medical history.

So, what is Myofascial Cupping?


Myofascial cupping is a soft tissue therapy that involves the application of decompressed cups on the skin, creating a vacuum effect that lifts underlying tissues such as the fascia (connective tissue) and muscles.

Myofascial cupping how it works and benefits

The neck, back, shoulders, chest, abdomen and legs are areas commonly treated given the supply of numerous large muscle groups. Once suction has been achieved, the physiotherapist can move the cup in quick, rhythmic strokes over the muscles or leaving the cups in place for 3 to 5 minutes.


After the cup is removed from the skin, some circular bruising on the skin is to be expected and may stay visible for up to 2-9 days. This is a normal part of the therapy and it isn’t painful.

Why Myofascial Cupping?

Myofascial cupping therapy has been shown to be beneficial for several musculoskeletal conditions and has a growing popularity among athletes.

Benefits of Myofascial Cupping : Application to the upper back and neck

Cupping aids muscular regeneration and alleviates pain, which is ideal to athletic performance while undergoing treatment and recovery. For example, research has shown that cupping can be beneficial in soccer players experiencing lower back and hip pain (Bridgett et al. 2018).

Additionally, the most common benefits reported include improved Range of Motion (ROM) and reduced blood markers of training induced tissue damage.

Other benefits of cupping include:

  • Stimulate blood flow.

  • Drain lymph and cellular debris.

  • Separate layers of connective tissue to bring hydration and blood flow to body tissue.

  • Soften tight muscles.

  • Relieve deep muscular issues and reduce muscle spasms.

  • Lift and stretch soft tissue to separate fascial restrictions.

  • Increase range of movement and flexibility in joints.

  • Move stagnation of lactic acid and metabolic waste and enable normal lymphatic flow to promote healthy circulation and help strengthen the immune system.

If you would like to give myofascial cupping therapy treatment a try, our physios are here to provide you with quality treatment. Give the clinic a call on (07) 3061 7128 or book here!

References

Bridgett et al. Effects of Cupping Therapy in Amateur and Professional Athletes: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. 2018.

Recent Posts

See All

9 Comments


The way you described the waterfront restaurants around Lake Martin made each place feel relaxing and inviting. Last summer, my cousins and I planned a lakeside trip shoyoroll rvca batch 60 while I searched for someone to D for me because assignments kept interrupting vacation plans. Posts like this are great because they combine travel, food, and atmosphere in a way that helps readers imagine the experience clearly. Your post makes me smile

Like

I came across xcvvstore in a discussion and decided to check it out. I only spent a few minutes looking around, but the site seemed pretty easy to navigate. The layout was clean and straightforward, and everything felt reasonably well organized without being too cluttered.


Like

Helpful article, and I found the writing clear and straightforward. I recently came across online geometry dash and liked the Practice Mode. It is handy for placing checkpoints, repeating one section, and learning difficult routes instead of starting the entire level again each time.

Like

La información clara siempre ayuda a realizar consultas más rápidas. En el caso de anguila2, tener los resultados disponibles en una página específica permite localizar los datos fácilmente y revisarlos de forma cómoda cuando sea necesario.

Like

Your perspective on this topic is both unique and enlightening. This piece provides a fresh and compelling take on the subject. moonlight peaks

Like
bottom of page