What is Sport Cupping or Myofascial Decompression (MFD) and why does it work?
Cupping and Myofascial Decompression (MFD) use negative pressure forces with suction to lift the tissues. This creates space within the tissue layers for improved gliding and mobility yielding increased range of motion and flexibility. Decompression helps release tight tissues and trigger points, improve blood flow and nutrient exchange, reduce inflammation, increase tissue hydration, and create a change to the neuromuscular system which allows for pain relief. Unlike other forms of manual therapy (massage, myofascial release, IASTM, joint mobilizations) that are compressive in nature, cupping and MFD are decompressive.
MFD is the type of cupping used on professional and olympic athletes. The name Myofascial Decompression comes from the group of clinicians who sought to differentiate MFD from traditional cupping as the methods, implementation, and results are not the same. This is the same group of physical therapists who worked with Michael Phelps and the 2016 USA Olympic team when cupping blew up. They’ve done a lot of quality research to support its use.
Traditional cupping often takes 20+ minutes, uses a shotgun approach, and is passive with the client lying still. Passive cupping has a temporary analgesic effect through stimulating receptors in the tissue layers, but it doesn’t effect lasting tissue change. Adaptation requires load. It requires shear force. This is where MFD comes in. MFD takes an active approach with the client moving with the cups on to facilitate decompression and shear force which stimulates the body to produce more hyaluronic acid. Without shear force, hyaluronic acid production isn’t stimulated. Hyaluronic acid is what makes up the fluidity or hydration content of connective tissue. Movement also helps to facilitate increased blood flow to the area to bring in oxygen and nutrients to stimulate healing as well as to remove waste products which are associated with pain. Active people require active solutions. MFD is specific to tissue dysfunction, and it works by rehydrating pockets of unhealthy, dehydrated tissue. It can free up tissue adhesions which pull on the fascial network within the body and can be a main source of pain. I’ve seen several individuals with back pain and releasing fascial adhesions with MFD was the primary treatment their body needed.
Another way to think about cupping is that it separates tissue layers apart (kind of like 2 pieces of paper glued together…it’s not going to move but if you separate them, they can slide without restriction). Cupping physically pulls muscles into the cup, even muscles below superficial muscles, and on MRI imaging you see increased space between those muscle layers, even 2 days later! What this means is that you have a window of opportunity to capitalize on movement to rehydrate tissue both during and a few days after a myofascial decompression session.
Depending on the amount of suction pressure used in the cups, MFD can be used for both excitatory muscular recruitment purposes, or inhibitory purposes. For example, if someone sprained their ankle and had difficulty activating those muscles after their injury, cupping can be used as a stimulus to increase muscular recruitment and enhance balance and ankle control instantly. Conversely sometimes muscles are overactive and we need to quiet them down. We can throw the cups on the overactive muscles and train the less active muscles to more effectively manage imbalances.
MFD takes 8 minutes or less. In fact, research shows that there’s no added benefit for tissue change beyond 8 minutes, so many are just wasting time getting more intense discoloration with no added benefit when they could be retraining movement or having something else worked on. The purpose of manual hands on therapy is to reduce pain and improve movement. The goal of PT is to Empower you to be free to move without symptoms. The sooner you can progress into loading the body to promote adaptation, the faster you’ll get past your pain. I won’t waste your time.
I never thought I’d be someone who cupped people. I was turned onto it by Brian Power, an expert physiotherapist who has been teaching manipulation therapy to chiropractors, physical therapists, and osteopathic doctors all over the world for 30 years. He stated that between manipulation and cupping he’s able to treat everything he sees. I took that to heart. I’ve found active cupping to be wildly effective for increasing range of motion, releasing soft tissue tension, and decreasing pain. MFD, when used in conjunction with scraping and other myofascial release techniques, manipulative therapy to address joint dysfunction, and progressive strength and stability training beyond bands is the absolute best recipe for success to regain a pain free life. I provide all these treatments, and I’m currently the only myofascial decompression certified provider north of Everett.
If you’d like to learn more about how I can help, please call and leave a message. If I’m unable to answer, I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m able.
