You may have recently noticed someone on the beach, gym or an athlete on TV with big circular
marks, reddish or purple in appearance, on their skin and wondered what on earth this may be!
These marks are in fact caused by a soft tissue modality called ‘Cupping’.
Cupping has grown in popularity recently as an effective treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal
issues but has indeed been around since the ancient Egyptians as well as being used in traditional
Chinese medicine. Cupping works on the premise of improving and increasing blood circulation to
the area in which the cup is placed.
How Does Cupping Work?
When suction is applied to the cups, blood is drawn to the surface of the skin, allowing the blood to
be more superficial in the skin and therefore easier for the lymphatic system to remove the waste
products that accumulate when muscles are tight and damaged. This reduces the amount of
inflammation in the muscles and boosts the healing response. The cups also act to stretch the
muscles and reduce the amount of discomfort in that area.
What Conditions Can Cupping Treat?
The most common application of this cupping is the treatment of any form of musculoskeletal
injury such as:
- Lower back pain
- Neck injury
- Knee pain
- Elbow pain
Furthermore cupping can help with post-surgical tissue healing, those looking to improve flexibility
and mobility and as an overall preventative treatment to reduce risk of injury particularly with those
who are at a desk for prolonged periods of time.
What to Expect From Cupping
A typical cupping treatment involves placing the cups to the area being treated and applying suction to the
cup. It should feel like a sucking sensation and slight pulling sensation as the pressure is applied. The
cups are then left on the skin for a period of 10-15 minutes in which there will be a likely change in
skin colour to that of a reddish or purple appearance as the blood is drawn to the surface of the skin.
The cups are then removed, and light massage is given to better facilitate blood flow. Typically, the
marks on the skin last for 7 to 10 days. It is advisable after a treatment to drink plenty of water as
another means to facilitate improved blood flow.
At Impulse Chiropractic, Dr Liam Kelly, utilises cupping and combines it with
regular chiropractic adjustments to deliver a holistic, multi-modal treatment.
Impulse Chiropractic is now offering 20% off your first cupping treatment! Click the link to book in with Liam Kelly or call us on 02 9939 8817!
