Cupping, Gua Sha & Manual Therapy
Reduce Muscular Tension and Pain
Increase Circulation
Improve Range of Motion
What is Cupping?
We do a lot of Cupping and Manual Therapy At Bridge Wellness! Manual Therapy and cupping are a great pairing for pain and stress relief. The combo aid with discomfort and help stiff joints and muscles move freely.
We create a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your personal health and will let you know if in our opinion, cupping would be beneficial for you.
Cupping works great for the following:
- Neck, Shoulder and Back Pain
- Chronic Pain
- Acute muscle tension
- Respiratory and/or sinus congestion
- Scar tissue from previous injury or surgery
- Systemic inflammation
- Stagnation of fluids (blood and lymph)
- Stimulating Immune System
How Does Cupping Work?
Cupping uses heat and a glass cup or suction and a plastic cup. A flame is lighted inside the glass cup to remove the oxygen from it, the practitioner quickly removes the flame from the cup and gently places the cup on the surface of the skin, which causes a suction effect. The cups are placed on specific areas of the body (usually the back, shoulders, arms and legs) and can be left in place (stationary) or moved across the skin (gliding).
The purpose of cupping is to draw up congestion and stagnation from deeper in the body and release locked tension. This allows qi energy to move freely through the meridians, alleviating pain.
Cupping feels similar to massage and most people find it very enjoyable. It creates a unique sensation of suction on the surface of the skin and may feel like a tight, intense, pulling sensation. As the cups remain on the body, this tight sensation usually softens and becomes very enjoyable and relaxing.
Cupping can cause discoloration on the surface of the skin. Bruising commonly occurs and is likely to heal in 5-7 days. The bruising is said to be part of the therapeutic effect and the marks left by cupping we also use as a diagnostic tool.
What Is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha involves using an instrument with rounded edges in a pressed stroke technique on the skin. This technique has many versatile uses such as to increase circulation, relieve muscle tension, break up fascia, and alleviate symptoms.
Gua Sha is a type of bodywork that uses tools to “scrape” the body. The tool may be made from ceramic spoon, metal, cotton, stone or bone. Gua sha may be gentle or deep, depending on the desired therapeutic effects. It is often used for sprains, strains, fever & chills, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, headache and more.