We provide remedial massage and myotherapy treatment in both our Sothbank and Melbourne CBD clinics. The therapists can use a variety techniques depending on your issue to effectively treat myofascial pain. One of the treatments that client are asking for more often these days is cupping.
What Are Cupping Marks?
One aspects of cupping that people are most interested in is the marking that occurs on the skin. These circular shapes that come up after a session of cupping are referred to as marking. They are not bruises, which are caused by an impact injury, and they aren’t painful to the touch like bruises. When people think of the marking as a bruise it brings to mind a painful treatment, however more often than not cupping is a more comfortable experience than deep tissue massage. Marking is a normal result from the vacuum of the cup drawing on the tissue.
In chinese medicine the marks are used as a diagnostic indicator to determine underlying issues. In western medicine however, cupping is mainly used for stretching and manipulation and the marking is not interpreted in the same way. At our clinics we may use cupping as part of your remedial or myotherapy session when massage alone is not releasing the muscular tension and fascial adhesions. Restricted muscles can result in reduced circulation, called ischemia, and this can lead to a build-up of numerous waste products in the muscle. Cupping treatment will help to bring fresh blood to areas being treated. Our blood brings with it the necessary essential minerals and nutrients to maintain muscular health and remove waste. The lifting action of the cups also give a good stretch to your muscles to treat myofascial trigger points, or knots, to return a muscle to its full length and elasticity, restoring power.
The Benefits
Cupping in combination with remedial massage can help to produce a change in the fascia (connective tissue) as well as the muscles. We can also use gliding cupping which has a stretching and rippling effect on the fasica around a tight muscle. Stationary cupping achieves a long, slow, sustained stretch which can release tight fascia.
Often areas of very dark colouration after cupping occurs where there has been an injury or overuse of a particular muscle or region. This doesn’t mean that cupping without marking has not been worthwhile. A darker coloured mark will become less intense after 24 hours but will usually take a few days to a week to disappear completely. Most marking fades within 4 – 10 days although some clients with poor circulation such as smokers or those who are dehydrated can find that they regularly take longer for their marking to fade.
If you would like more information or you would like tos make an appointment for a remedial massage or myotherapy session and include a cupping treatment you may book online or call us on 03 9645 9923
Melbourne Natural Therapies
Massage and cupping
Myotherapy Melbourne
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