In-Home Cupping Therapy

While the popularity of therapeutic cupping significantly increased after swimmer Michael Phelps showed off multiple purple circles under his gold medals in the 2016 Olympics, it is not a new practice. In fact, it was originally used by the ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern cultures. It is a form of alternative pain management that is performed by placing cups on the skin, in order to create suction.

Today, it is used to relieve pain, promote relaxation, enhance blood flow, and ease inflammation. To find out more about how cupping may benefit you, request an appointment with Onofray Physical Therapy today by filling out our Contact Us Form.

While it cannot make you swim faster, cupping can be an effective tool in the practice of physical therapy. Cupping creates negative pressure, which helps to increase hydration and blood flow to body tissues, as well as loosen up adhesions. It is a versatile treatment that can be modified for your condition, whether you need deep tissue massage or a myofascial release. It can sometimes create bruises on the skin (purple circles) that can last up to two weeks. Bruises typically resolve themselves with time and should not be of concern.

Cupping can sometimes be described as a tissue lubrication technique. During the cupping process, the cups can be glided across different areas of the body in order to lift and separate tissue. This works to enhance the release of the interfaces between the neural tissues, fascia, skin, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. It relaxes muscles, releases trigger points, improves lymphatic flow, increases local circulation, and releases scar tissue adhesion. Evidence supports cupping as an effective treatment method for several conditions, such as chronic neck pain, low back pain, and fibromyalgia.

There are different forms of cupping techniques including static and dynamic. Static cupping implies that the cups will be put on your tissue and left in one place. Dynamic cupping can mean that the cups will be glided across areas of your body or the application of cups to one area while you move and/or stretch.

There are many benefits to therapeutic cupping including:  speeding the recovery time of certain injuries and ailments and reducing symptoms. Onofray Physical Therapy believes in a holistic approach to treating your condition. Rather than fixating on one solution, such as cupping, we like to provide you with many resources to find what works on your body, for your needs. This may mean that throughout the course of treatment you will experience cupping, however you will also experience massage, strength and stretching exercises, functional movements and possibly dry needling as part of your plan of care.

If you are in the North Phoenix area and have an injury or health condition that is limiting you from living your life the way you want, start with filling out the contact us form. You will be contacted by our licensed physical therapist to figure out if cupping is right for you!