A+ Sports Therapy

Injury & Rehabilitation Clinic

Dry Cupping

Dry Cupping treatments are now available from a few differing therapists at the clinic.  Book in on the various days to receive this therapy!

Dry cupping is a 3000-Year-Old Treatment that has origins in both the East (China) & the West (Egypt).

 

What is Dry Cupping?

It is an effective therapeutic technique used to increase the body’s blood circulation, remove toxins & promote the healing process.  It is performed by placing plastic or glass cups on an area of the skin.  The air inside the cup is then suctioned or vacuumed out & left on the skin for numerous time frames totally dependent on the conditions of the patient.  The body replenishes the cupped areas with healthier blood flow & stimulates healing at a cellular level.

Cupping is a technique that utilises negative pressure to stretch superficial structures in the body including skin, fascia & muscle tissue.  The purpose of this technique is to increase microcirculation of the aforementioned soft tissue structures to enhance the healing process.

Cupping applies a partial vacuum to relieve tension on the skin & the underlying tissues.  This relief of tension promotes an increase of blood flow, which helps the body to begin the process of healing damaged tissues & to remove toxins that have built up over time.  Removal of waste materials in the body can lead to a relief of tension without large amounts of pressure being applied.  Cupping can be used over any region of the body as long as there is a seal between the skin & the cup.

Cupping is used to help relieve tension.  The cupping technique lifts up the soft tissues, relaxing muscles & allowing the fibres to move slightly apart.  This action, releases tension from the muscles & can help to increase flexibility.

 

What to expect during your treatment!

As you are now aware the Cupping at A+ Sports Therapy is Dry Cupping & within your treatment session your therapist will place the cups directly onto your skin.  The cup is manually pumped to create a suction & the cups are then left on your skin for several minutes, which is known as Static Cupping, or if required they are moved along the skin or the area of injury by use of a Sliding Technique.  There is also a technique called Flash Cupping that can be used to suction & lift the cups from the skin which are left for a few seconds or minutes & has proven to be an effective treatment for pain relief, all of these techniques can be used in combination with massage.

 

The Sliding Technique is generally used whilst the patient flexes & extends the joint. The joint movement can be done actively by yourself or passively by your therapist.

This technique:

  • Can help to produce a quicker stretch response within the soft tissue.
  • Helps to increase heat within the muscle through the joint movement & helps to increase localised blood flow to the area.
  • Aids proprioception & nerve stimulation via movement.

 

The Flash Technique is when multiple cups are placed along with the muscle. Then the first cup is removed & reapplied in front of the last cup providing continuous movement of cups.

This technique:

  • Can produces fewer cupping marks than other techniques.
  • Is lighter and more superficial dependant on the suction used.

Having a cupping treatment with us can encompass a combination of static, flashing & sliding techniques.  Which will depend on the reason for the treatment & the type of pain, injury or condition being treated.

 

What is cupping used for?

Cupping can be applied for a vast number of conditions, such as:

  • Acute & Chronic Conditions
  • Muscle & Joint Pain (including Rheumatoid Arthritis)
  • Increasing a patients range of movement
  • Breaking down knots, adhesions & scar tissue
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Headaches & Migraines
  • Sciatica
  • Stress & Anxiety

 

What are the benefits of cupping? 

Cupping has many benefits such as:

 

Sport & Performance

Athletes want to keep their body in peak performance & cupping can be most effective in achieving this, from clearing lactic acid or repetitive restrictions, cupping can keep the muscles in a state of optimal functioning at every stage of training/competition.  For when done regularly cupping will have an accumulative effect & help maintain muscle tissue, promoting muscle health & increasing recovery times.

 

Therapeutic benefits on the body systems (the following list is by no means exhaustive)! 

Body temperature regulation.

  • Cupping can draw excessive heat/inflammation to the surface & out of the area of injuries.
  • Circulation will increase & in turn decrease tension an evenly disperse the excessive heat to allow recovery.

 

How cupping effects, the skin and the surface tissues. 

  • It stimulates superficial circulation.
  • It supports temperature regulation.
  • It helps to desensitise superficial pain patterns (from aggravated nerve endings).

 

How cupping affects the cardiovascular system. 

  • It promotes overall circulation.
  • It encourages venous return (deoxygenates blood back to the heart).
  • It affects blood pressure (which benefits patients with both high & low blood pressure by regulating effect).

 

How cupping affects the muscular system. 

  • It promotes overall skeletal muscle health (by encouraging pliability, hydration & a reduction in tension. It also aids the removal of waste an encourages greater blood flow).
  • It promotes the lengthening of tight muscles.
  • It encourages lymph movement.
  • It stimulates peristalsis (large intestine movement, aiding digestion).
  • It promotes muscle recovery.

 

How cupping affects the skeletal system. 

  • It relieves inflammation.
  • It can help increase limited range of motion, working on joints with limited movement to improve flexibility & overall mobility.

 

Dry Cupping Treatment Costs at A+ Sports Therapy

  • 30 Minute Treatment = £35.00
  • 60 Minute Treatment = £50.00
  • 90 Minute Treatment = £65.00