Just wondering if anyone has tried it before. I’m wondering how it’s different from deep tissue massage or other recovery practices?
Just wondering if anyone has tried it before. I’m wondering how it’s different from deep tissue massage or other recovery practices?
According to the American Cancer Society, “There is no scientific evidence that cupping leads to any health benefits…No research or clinical studies have been done on cupping. Any reports of successful treatment with cupping are anecdotal. There is no scientific evidence that cupping can cure cancer or any other disease.”
http://www.skepdic.com/cupping.html
I’ve tried it. It’s certainly nothing magical… IMO.
Just wondering if anyone has tried it before. I’m wondering how it’s different from deep tissue massage or other recovery practices?
Some people seem to enjoy it.
It does make your back look like a King of the Mountains jersey.
I had it done as part of a barrage of aggressive physio to resolve an injury before a race… hurt like a mofo, for sure. But the combination of stuff they did worked to get me to the starting (and finish) line.
I’ve never heard claims it will cure cancer, so trust your oncologist vs. an acupuncturist using it.
Basic physics of it: it creates a mechanical expansion of the soft tissue upwards into the cup. Different forces from hands/roller/etc pushing into the tissue. So it can loosen some tight areas of muscle and fascia, as other techniques will do, but does it via a pulling force, vs a pushing force, so that’s the main difference really from some of the other approaches.
Just another technique, it can work well for improving tissue extensibility and therefore some range of motion. And you can sport some stylish round hickeys like Gwyneth Paltrow.
I am highly doubtful. There is virtually a frictionless environment between the layers of skin and muscle, so pulling the skin is not equal to pulling a muscle. Just try to tug around your biceps by pulling the skin. Not much happends and certainly not enough to create something therapeutic, whatever that might be.
It is however certain that some noxious stimuli in a therapeutic environment can create some solid placebo effect, turning on systems like PAG (Periaqueductal Gray). To get this you can choose anything that resonates with you. It doesnt even matter that much if you know that it is a “placebo”, it is still something physiological that happens within you. Just remember, it is YOUR body creating the effect, not the therapy.
I’m a ‘onceatriathlete’ too just a wanna be swimmer now. The only one of these fringe treatments that worked for me and subsequently my dad is tendon scraping. Some know it by Graston, but it’s based on an old Chinese therapy called Gua Sha. Literally transformed my shoulder in a half dozen treatments it broke up scar tissue massage therapists/rolling couldn’t get to. Even tried cupping and acupuncture. I had been told by my ortho I needed to have subacromial decompression ASAP or else risk damaging my shoulder permanently, but I wanted to try everything I could to avoid going under the knife so was all over the map for 6 months or so b/f I relented to surgery. That was maybe 6 years ago zero issues now.
Dad was an even better result he had been battling PF for years. Super active in his 70’s plays tennis 5 days a week swims 3-4. He had been the whole mile with PT, Ortho/Podiatrist/Sports Med Specialist and working it at home wearing that big ugly boot at night for a couple of years. After many years he had finally run into not playing tennis for more than 30 minutes and the surgeon said it was time to cut. That’s when I suggested ‘why not try what I did’ and he went in for about 10 tendon scraping sessions and that was that…done. He never wore the boot again, hasn’t been back to the doc and is back to playing a full doubles tournament schedule and swimming.
Dad bought a couple of Gua Sha tools and still touches up his PF when it gets tight on occasion and stays ahead of it. He’s an animal the guy just goes full tilt all the time I love it. Beast mode!
https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/hickey/
sometimes i like my science with some sass
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