Have you been struggling with chronic lower back pain? Are you willing to try whatever it takes to resolve your sore muscles and aching back? At Zenith Physiotherapy and Wellness, our chiropractors are skilled at cupping and use whatever technique we need to help you find relief! You may benefit from cupping.
Cupping therapy is an ancient technique of healing where the practitioner applies specialized cups (i.e., glass, silicon, or plastic) to specific locations on the skin and creates suction by altering the pressure with either heat or suction.
You may hear many claims about what cupping can and can’t treat, and some may seem too good to be true. Fortunately, pain relief from cupping is real, and the science backs it up! Although cupping has been around for centuries, it has gained popularity in the athletic community and with celebrities worldwide.
Chiropractors are highly trained and skilled at treating musculoskeletal pain. We use manual techniques (i.e., spinal manipulation) and modalities (i.e., electro-stimulation) to provide immediate relief and lasting results.
What is cupping?
Have you seen people with circular bruises and wondered what they came from? Cupping involves the placement of round cups directly on the skin in pain and/or tension areas. The cups are traditionally heated using fire to create the suction needed to hold them to your body. The cups are then left on your skin for several minutes each session.
Cupping is an ancient treatment started in Chinese and Middle Eastern medicine. People have practiced cupping therapy for thousands of years to ease pain and other ailments. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a practitioner uses points on the Meridian system to guide their treatment. In TCM, the Meridians are thought to be passages for the flow of our vital energy (Qi) and blood (Xue). The Meridian system is believed to connect the interior with the body’s exterior, and when in balance, health is restored.
In more modern forms of cupping, the cups are placed on trigger points, which are specific points of high irritability. Trigger points are thought to trigger local and referred pain and are often the result of trauma or overuse. Applying cupping to these areas of tension (trigger points) is a way to relieve musculoskeletal pain, including back and neck pain.
The exact mechanism of pain control is still being researched, with the leading theory being explained by Gate Control Theory. The gate control theory is essentially where a non-painful input (cupping) closes the nerve “gates” so the pain is blocked.
Nitric oxide is associated with muscle relaxation and less tension and pain. Muscle tension is also positively affected by cupping due to increased local blood flow. When blood flow is increased, nitric oxide levels are also increased.
What to expect at your chiropractic visits
At Zenith Physiotherapy and Wellness, our chiropractors will perform a comprehensive evaluation. This will include a thorough history and a hands-on assessment to identify subluxations in the joint and restrictions or tension in the soft tissue surrounding the joint. We also will conduct a movement screen to ensure we assess the whole body and identify all the possible factors associated with your back condition.
Next, your therapist at Zenith Physiotherapy and Wellness will create a targeted, individualized plan of care for you to promote accelerated recovery and immediate pain relief. We will use any appropriate technique, including cupping, to alleviate pain and facilitate restoring mobility to the injured area.
Your chiropractor will guide you through corrective exercises designed to help restore mobility, improve strength and regain function. We will also incorporate exercises to correct your posture and body mechanics so you can resume an active, pain-free life and avoid future pain or injury.
Request an appointment at Zenith Physiotherapy and Wellness today!
No matter how you heard about it, cupping may be the thing that can help you find relief for your aching back. At Zenith Physiotherapy and Wellness, our chiropractors are skilled at helping you find pain relief.
Call today to make an appointment, and get back to enjoying a pain-free life!
Your Next Steps…
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- Joint Mobilization
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- Extremity Manipulation
- Muscle Stimulation (ESTIM)
- Active Release
- Graston Technique
- Instrument-Assisted Soft Mobilization
- Manual/Diversified Adjustment
- Drop-Table Adjustment
- Activator Adjustment
- Cupping Therapy
- Shockwave Therapy
- Pediatric Chiropractic
- Pre/Post-Natal Chiropractic
- Post-Natal Chiropractic
