Considering that celebrities and sports stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Michael Phelps are using it, one might think that it is a new treatment technique. But is an ancient form of alternative medicine which is particularly good for treating pain in the fascia and connective tissue dating back to old Egyptian, Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures.

Cupping helps move stagnation for example with longstanding soft tissue injuries and sluggish vascular situations. It is specifically good for whiplash, chronic low back pain, loosening soft tissue and swelling. The treatment involves a therapist putting a cup on your skin for a few mins to create suction. One way to think about cupping is that it is the inverse of massage. Rather than applying pressure to the muscles, the suction uses pressure to pull skin, tissue and muscles upwards and thereby relieving pressure on these structures. If you are afraid of the bruising associated with it, don’t worry, there is a way to avoid it. If you feel that this may be something that is beneficial to you or you would like to know more about it book in with one of our trained physiotherapists and maybe try something new in 2017.