Healing Myofascial Cupping

Healing Cupping

For all photos I have on my website, I have full permission from my female sports clients to put these photos of their cupping when cups are on and off their bodies, so people who have never had cupping know what it looks like when cups are on and off.

(Everyone has different reactions to myofascial cupping) I will not do cupping on your body if you have unhealthy skin or conditions like diabetes.

This is 100% not Chinese Cupping!

What is Myofascial Cupping?

Have you seen some athletes on TV or a person walking in the shopping mall with round bruise marks on their shoulders or back? This is the result of Myofascial Cupping or Chinese cupping, which I don't do.

These treatments I 100% do not do due to safety, and my insurance company will not cover these treatments.

Hot/fire cupping: Cupping is an ancient Chinese therapy where some use glass or plastic cups in their sessions today. Fire cupping is where they heat the inside glass, which can sometimes cause damage to the skin with burns. It has been on the news with untrained people doing the cupping in some massage places.

Wet Cupping:

Wet cupping is another bad so-called treatment where they do a small cut of the skin where the cupping is applied over the small cut, and it sucks out the blood. They will tell you it helps many different conditions. The chance of getting an infection is high, and you will have all these small cuts over the body where they have done this so-called treatment. Keep away from any treatment that involves blood unless it's done by a GP.

Myofascial cupping has been used since ancient times in many cultures, but more commonly in Traditional Chinese Medicine to decrease stagnant, congested blood flow and energy through the body.

In recent times, many health professionals have come to realise that in the same process, we can apply the same materials with a different end goal in mind to be able to release these soft tissue fascia structures that can cause pain.

Why do we use cupping at Athletic Sports Massage Canberra?

Cupping is much like a reverse massage, where instead of compression into the soft tissue, suction is applied as the tissue is pulled into the cups. This has been shown to create movement and gliding of the tissues beneath the surface, decrease muscle tension, and increase blood flow, which in turn helps nourish the area with oxygen and aid in healing.

How is it done?

Athletic Sports Massage Canberra uses plastic pump suction cups, which are safer. The plastic pump cups remove the need for flame to create heat, which is a safer process and allows for quicker and safer application.

There are two forms of Myofascial cupping that Athletic Sports Massage Canberra does.

Gliding: Where oil is applied, and the cups are glided across the surface of the ski, pulling the tissues into the cup as it moves slowly along the skin. This will only leave a long reddish mark on your skin, but the red mark will go much quicker than cupping left on the skin for up to 8 minutes.
Stationary: This is where the cups are placed on one specific tight area of the body and left for 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the client. This is where the mark is more likely to occur.

Does it hurt?

It will depend on the client-to-client, depending on how tight you are and your body's level of sensitivity. While the suction might feel uncomfortable to start with, this will more than likely ease as the cups are left there. The gliding cupping can be uncomfortable to start with if you are tight, but the amount of suction used can be adjusted to your level of comfort; if to light, you may not get the same benefits.

With most manual therapies, you may experience some post-treatment tenderness, and as mentioned above, there might be some bruising at the cupping site. This is only superficial and should only last about a week, depending on your body.

Benefits of Myofascial Cupping

Myofascial cupping has many therapeutic benefits which could include:

For chronic pain management, if you're living with ongoing discomfort, cupping can support your body’s natural healing process by lifting and loosening tight fascia, improving tissue health, and calming overactive pain signals.
Help the release of tight Myofascial.
Passively stretch soft tissues.
Draws blood from deep to superficial resulting in nourishing the skin by improving blood circulation.
Increase tissue temperature.
Reduce tension and adhesion in the tissues.
Softens tight muscles and helps to increase the range of movement and flexibility. (Ramdon of movement (ROM)

FAQs

⚠️ Avoid wet cupping as it's not safe, and the chance of getting an infection in the little cut they put on your back is high, as you can not clean then. It does not help you in any way; some say it helps with the flu, and others say it helps with other conditions. When anyone does anything that makes blood come from your body, stay away unless it's a real medical doctor (GP)

⚠️ When You Should Avoid Myofascial Cupping

While myofascial cupping is generally safe, there are certain situations where it’s best to avoid or delay treatment:

🚫 Do Not Receive Cupping If You Have:

Active skin infections or open wounds in the treatment area, or Severe varicose veins in the area being treated

Uncontrolled high blood pressure or cardiovascular conditions.
Bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia) or are on blood thinners.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or risk of blood clots.
Fever or acute illness (e.g., flu, infection, cold)
Recent surgery or injury that hasn’t fully healed.
Cancer in the treatment area, unless cleared by a doctor.
Sunburn or rash in the area to be treated.

🤰 Pregnant?

Cupping can be done safely in some cases, but certain areas (like the abdomen or lower back) should be avoided. Always consult your practitioner first.

💊 On Medications?

Let your therapist know if you’re taking blood thinners or have any condition that affects your skin, circulation, or immune system.

✅ Always Tell Your Practitioner If You:

Have a medical condition or chronic illness.
Pregnant or breastfeeding.
Taking prescription medication, such as pain medications.
Have sensitive skin or a history of easy bruising.

✅ Is It Safe to Cup Over Healed Tattoos

If your tattoo is fully healed (usually after 4–6 weeks, but longer for large or heavily shaded areas),

⚠️ Avoid Cupping Over Fresh or Healing Tattoos

If your tattoo is new, scabbing, peeling, or still healing, avoid cupping in that area. The suction can:

Disrupt the healing process.
Cause irritation or infection.
Pull at delicate skin and scabs.
Potentially distort the ink or scar the area.

Q And A

Q: Is the Myofascial Cupping just for your regular clients?

A: Yes, as it's an add-on I have within my remedial sports massage session.

Q: I am taking pain medication, so can I still have cupping?

A: For skin safety, it would be highly advisable not to have cupping until you have stopped the pain medication.

Q: How long do they stay on?

A: Five to eight minutes and then removed.

Q: Will I get a bruise?

A: Yes, you might get some marks that can take several days to disappear, depending on the type of treatment and the length of time the cups remained on the skin. So, think before you get cupping if you are going out with a low-cut back dress to dinner or a wedding, I wouldn't get cupping.

Q: Are your myofascial cupping techniques cups left on the muscles without moving, or do you use the gliding motion over the surface of the skin?

A: Yes, I can do either or both, depending on the area I am doing in the session.

Q: Can anyone get the cupping?

A: Myofascial cupping release is a therapeutic technique that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which is believed to help with pain relief, muscle relaxation, and improving blood flow.

All cupping is free within the 1 or 1.5-hour massage session.

All photos I have full permission from my lady clients to put these photos on my website of their cupping when cups are on and off, so people who have never had cupping know what it looks like. (Everyone has different reactions to myofascial cupping.)