Cupping

Our team of professionals at Breakthru Physical Therapy + Fitness uses cupping therapy to treat muscle and soft tissue problems. The cups provide negative pressure, creating space within tissue layers to improve gliding and mobility. We have many layers of tissues in the body, including skin, fascia, and muscle, that should move fluidly. Due to injury or inflammation, however, the tissues can become thickened and less mobile. Decompression therapy using cups helps release tight tissues, improves trigger points, and increases circulation, allowing pain relief and better mobility.

What Are The Benefits of Cupping?

There are numerous benefits to using cupping within a physical therapy treatment session, including:

• Decreasing inflammation
• Decreasing muscle spasms and trigger points
• Decreasing pain
• Improving blood and oxygen circulation
• Improving range of motion
• Improving scar mobility
• Speeding up recovery times

What Conditions Are Right for Cupping?

Cupping can be used for most orthopedic and sports injury conditions. The most common conditions that are treated with cupping include:

• Contractures
• Scar adhesions
• Post-surgical recovery
• Muscle imbalances
• Tendinopathy
• Postural issues
• Strains and sprains
• Trigger points

What To Expect After Cupping

Many patients feel the benefits from cupping in as little as one treatment session. The treatment areas where the cups are used should feel looser and more relaxed, and you may notice an improved range of motion and flexibility.

Bruising is the most common side effect from cupping, and most people will have circular-shaped discoloration underneath the treatment areas where the cups were used. Most bruises from cupping disappear within ten days.

If you want to learn more about how our Breakthru Physical Therapy + Fitness team can use cupping for rehabilitation, or to schedule an appointment, click here.