Cupping Could Give You the Relief to Your Running You've Been Needing

The pains of the day after a major run can be as dramatic as the most intense of runner’s highs. Stretching yourself to your breaking point to go that extra mile or shaving those precious seconds off will result in strained muscles that will make moving the next day a pain in the lower legs. Instead of turning to aspirin or prescription painkillers try something that has proven to help people with muscle strain and pain for decades – cupping.

What is Cupping?

Cupping is a Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment that involves placing glass or plastic cups on key parts of the back and legs. As Dr. Lamya Kamel, Director of Acupuncture at Aligned Modern Health, explains, “The cups work in two ways, the first is that a natural vacuum is creates that gently pulls at the affected region, providing relief by improving circulation and ‘drawing away’ pain. The second is a byproduct of the suction where superficial blood vessels called capillaries are broken creating a light mark and a flush of blood circulation to the area.”  

Ok, But How Will It Help Me?

The cups work to create myofascial decompression that essentially pulls on your skin to loosen up the tight fascia tissue below. As fascia is a tissue that is omnipresent in your body, meaning it’s everywhere, tightness in one area can have a broad affect that restricts the movement of several muscles and joints.

Not only does cupping therapy provide relief from sore muscles and stiffness, cupping is a natural tool for performance enhancement and can be beneficial for injury prevention. As cupping improves the health of your fascia, you’ll be able to move your body the way you should. Cupping, which is nearly effortless, is passive and relaxing means for increasing range of motion and flexibility.

Cupping may also be used to treat sports injuries and reduce scar tissue. Growing in popularity and seen throughout the Olympics on the bodies of champions, trainers and doctors are seeing positive results for athletes with a range of symptoms including plantar fasciitis, iliotibial band syndrome, and tight hamstrings.

Types of Treatments

When you schedule your cupping treatment it is best to approach the event with an open mind. There are a wide variety of cups and placement techniques, each with their own specific purposes and placement schedules (from five to twenty minutes).

“At Aligned Modern Health we utilize glass pneumatic cups which have varying degrees of vacuum potential to help maximize the positive impact,” Dr. Kamel says.  “In addition, the variety of placements and whether or not the cups are moved can help make certain that all problematic areas are targeted and treated with precision.”

Is Cupping Right For Me?

Complimentary medicine in any form may be utilized when the goal is to minimize the risk of the side effects common with modern treatments. When you are training, you may want to avoid various medications that make you sleepy or impair your workout. Cupping has helped many marathon runners relieve pain and recover faster by relaxing strained muscles and ligaments. This relaxation, along with improved blood flow, helps promote the swift healing needed to help you get back on the running path as quickly as possible.

Things to Consider

This treatment method, when used by itself or in conjunction with acupuncture, has the ability to potentially improve your quality of life in both the short and long terms. Before making an appointment it is considered wise to discuss the potential treatments with your family doctor to make certain that you will not be risking any negative reaction with the medication you may be taking. After all, our goal is to help you heal and live a full life. Avoiding potential issues, no matter how slim they may be, is key to this endeavor.

Side Effects

Cupping, when used by itself or with acupuncture, is generally considered safe. The worst side effects that can occur is a slight discoloration and soreness at the application site. Your treatment provider will be able to craft a plan that provides maximum relief with minimizing the risks of these side effects.

Schedule Your Cupping Session Today

The acupuncture team at Aligned Modern Health is ready to help you get the most out of your cupping or acupuncture treatment today. Schedule a consultation with a member of our medical staff to determine which treatments will be most effective for your specific condition. Helping you live a pain-free and happy life through Traditional Chinese Medicine is our goal and passion.