Sports massage therapy, massage cupping therapy for fascia release.

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Myofascial Cupping at Athletic Sports Massage Canberra.

Regular clients get free Myofascial Cupping if they want!

Ray is looking for female clients who would like to be on my website with cupping photos in different areas of the body, and those ladies always get extra massage time and also a free monthly massage if they want. (If you are fit-looking and interested, please contact me) Your face will not be shown unless you want your face in the photo that goes on Ray's website. Ray wants real photos, not made-up ones, for his website.

Kind permission to use the photos on this site, to show the real results.
"Ray believes in being 100% open. These photos you see here ofRay's amazing female sports clients are shared with their kind permission. Ray has included these to help take the mystery out of cupping, showing you exactly what it looks like both during a session and the 'glow' it leaves behind." The male photo of the cupping to the back and glutes is Ray's body. All photos that were taken had been shown to the clients involved. 

Ray uses two ways of applying cupping as follows:

1. Myofascial Cupping (Static)

What it is: Cups are placed on the skin to create suction and are typically left in place while you stay still.

Focus:

• Decompressing soft tissue.
• Increasing circulation. 
• Releasing fascial restrictions. 
• Reducing pain and muscle tension.
   

What happens during a session:

• You lie on a table. 
• Cups are applied to specific areas. 
• You remain mostly passive. 
• Cups stay in place for eight minutes.
   

Best for:

• Acute muscle tightness.
• Trigger points. 
• General pain relief. 
• Relaxation-based therapy.
   

2. Functional Myofascial Cupping (Movement-Based)

What it is:
Cups are applied while you actively move through specific, guided movement patterns.

Focus:

• Releasing fascia during movement.
• Improving joint mobility.
• Retraining movement patterns. 
• Enhancing performance and functional strength.
   

What happens during a session:

• Cups are placed in a restricted area. 
• You perform controlled movements (e.g., squats, shoulder rotations, etc.) 
• The therapist may guide specific functional patterns.
   

Best for:

• Athletes.
• Chronic movement restrictions. 
• Rehab after injury. 
• Mobility and performance improvement.

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 "Understanding Myofascial Sports Cupping. You’ve likely seen athletes with circular marks on their skin—a sight made famous by modern sports recovery. While these marks are common, my practice is strictly focused on Myofascial Sports Cupping, a Western musculoskeletal therapy.  

"Safety & Suitability:
Every individual responds uniquely to Sports Myofascial Cupping Release. To ensure the highest standard of care, I do not perform this treatment on clients with compromised skin integrity or certain systemic conditions, such as diabetes.

Please Note: This practice is a modern, Western-based musculoskeletal therapy. It is strictly Myofascial Cupping and should not be confused with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or 'fire cupping or wet cupping.'"

To ensure the highest level of safety and clinical excellence:

• No 'Fire' or Traditional Cupping: I do not use heat or traditional meridian-based methods.
• No 'Wet' Cupping: I do not perform techniques involving incisions or blood. These carry higher infection risks and do not align with my professional insurance or strict clinical standards."

"A Note on Traditional 'Fire' Cupping and Wet Cupping.
Traditional Chinese Cupping often utilises glass cups and an open flame to create a vacuum. While a historic practice, the use of fire introduces a significant risk of accidental burns and skin damage, particularly if the glass becomes overheated. Because my practice prioritises modern safety protocols and precise pressure control, I exclusively use high-quality suction tools that achieve the same myofascial results without the use of heat or flames." 

 The Risks of Wet Cupping

• Bloodborne Pathogens: Because the procedure involves intentional bloodletting, there is a verified risk of transmitting serious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C if equipment is not perfectly sterilised between every use. Cups should never be reused if they have had any blood on them. Washing the cups by hand does not kill any HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C, etc.
• Severe Infection & Abscesses: Breaking the skin barrier (dermal barrier) creates a direct pathway for bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) to enter the body. This can lead to localised abscesses or even life-threatening systemic infections like necrotising fasciitis.
• Regulatory Requirements in Canberra

              In the ACT, practitioners performing "skin penetration" (which includes any treatment       

              where blood is drawn) must:

1. Hold an Infection Control Activity Licence.
2. Comply with the ACT Health Infection Control Code of Practice.
3. Keep a Sterilisation Log if using an autoclave, which must be retained for 12 months for health inspections. So asked to see their Sterilisation Log and their autoclave. If they can't prove the cleansness to the cups, don't get the wet cupping! Just washing in soapy water is not good enough!
   

Important Note: If your myofascial cups are plastic and cannot be verified as "sterile" after blood contact, the safest science-based practice is to discard them.

• Permanent Scarring: The "scarification" process—making small incisions with a scalpel—can lead to keloid scarring or permanent skin discolouration, particularly if the cuts are too deep or heal poorly.
• Physical Strain: Repeated wet cupping can lead to anaemia due to cumulative blood loss. It can also cause sudden drops in blood pressure, leading to dizziness, fainting, or more severe cardiovascular stress.

 Why It Is Not Recommended for My Practice

• Clinical Safety Standards: My practice follows strict Western musculoskeletal principles. Wet cupping requires hospital-grade biohazard protocols, including specialised waste disposal for blood-contaminated sharps, which are beyond the scope of a standard sports therapy clinic.  
• Important Note: If your myofascial cups are plastic and cannot be verified as "sterile" after blood contact, the safest science-based practice is to discard them. 
• Insurance Exclusion: Due to the high risk of infection and lack of standardisation, most professional sports therapy insurance policies do not cover wet cupping.
• Evidence Gap: While some traditional practices claim "detoxification," there is no scientific evidence that drawing blood through the skin removes "toxins" more effectively than your own liver and kidneys, and I have talked with a GP about this, as well as many other health workers.

After care

How should I care for myself after a myofascial cupping session? To get the most out of your treatment and ensure your body recovers effectively, follow these simple aftercare steps:

• Hydrate Consistently: Drink plenty of water over the next 12–24 hours. Cupping stimulates the lymphatic system to clear metabolic waste, and adequate hydration is essential to facilitate this "flushing" process.
• Keep the Area Warm: Your skin and muscles will be more sensitive to temperature. Avoid cold drafts, air conditioning, or cold showers immediately after your session. Staying warm helps maintain the increased circulation we’ve just established.
• Rest and Listen to Your Body: It is normal to feel slightly fatigued or experience mild, flu-like "heaviness" as your body processes the treatment. Allow yourself a few hours of downtime to let your nervous system settle.
• Avoid Intense Heat for 24 Hours: Skip the sauna, hot tub, or extremely hot showers for the first day. Excessive heat can over-dilate the capillaries and potentially prolong the duration of the marks.
• Modify Your Training: While gentle movement is encouraged to support blood flow, avoid high-intensity exercise or heavy lifting for at least 24 hours. This gives the decompressed tissues time to stabilise and recover.
• Avoid Irritants: For 4–6 hours post-session, it is best to avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these can dehydrate the body and interfere with the natural healing response. 

Remember, everyone reacts differently to myofascial cupping, and marks or sensations can vary from person to person.