A Cup Of Heat and a Good Lie Down

There was a lot of talk back in the 2016 Olympics when swimmer Michael Phelps was photographed during a swim covered in what looked like round bruises over his shoulders and back.

Or when Carlton player Patrick Cripps was seen with the same round marks around his shoulders during a game.

These round marks weren’t minor injuries obtained during training – they were self-inflicted through a form a soft tissue treatment called cupping.

Myofascial cupping is a form of treatment that uses suction to lift the muscle tissue as a cup is moved or placed over the skin.

Myofascial cupping is a safe and non-invasive technique for the effective release of connective tissue, facial and trigger points within the muscle.

We all know how hard some athletes work and the amount of strain they put on their bodies, from continued hours running on the football oval, to swimming hundreds of laps up and down a pool athlete put their bodies to the test.

During intensive training sessions, muscles with develop micro tears, which promote growth within the muscle, however this stress on the muscle can also lead to a build-up of toxins like lactic acid.

Myofascial cupping can help break down the toxin build up within these muscles and promote blood flow and circulation within the area and help with the elimination of these toxins.

Muscle tightness within athletes is a very common occurrence.

Cupping can also help relieve myofascial resections within the muscle.

The treatment increases blow flow and circulation to the muscles, therefore increasing flexibility and decreasing the likeness of spasms and cramps during competition and training.

Cupping is an excellent form of treatment that can help athletes enhance their performance and recovery.

If you would like to give this type of therapy a go, ask in one of your next appointments and one of our therapist will be able to add this into your normal massage treatment.

Shannon Driscoll is a massage therapist at The Health Creation Centre in Ocean Grove.