Cupping is a method of soft tissue mobilization (aka massage) that pulls the skin away from the body instead of pushing it into the muscle. By applying the cup with massage cream and moving it across the muscle length it can provide a neuro-physiological relaxation effect to the muscle. This can help improve the muscles usage during exercise and decrease discomfort with stretching.
It can be beneficial for smaller muscles in the rotator cuff that are too tender for a deep tissue massage.
It can also be helpful on the low back when the muscles have spasms or are too tender to foam roll or massage.
We at South End PT can help determine if cupping is an appropriate modality for your rehabilitation and recovery!
