WHAT TO EXPECT What to expect from Myofascial Cupping and Cupping Therapy. Patients can expect a generally pain-free experience from myofascial cupping. The treatment can be similar to that of a regular massage. The practitioner will often warm the area with remedial massage before using myofascial cupping. Alternatively, a purely myofascial cupping treatment can be carried out if that patient prefers. When myofascial cupping is carried out, oil is applied to the treatment area so the cup is able to glide over the tissue.  The cup is placed onto the skin and a pump is used to physically suck the oxygen out of the cup, creating a vacuum that pulls the underlying tissue and fluids up into the cup. Medium negative pressure is felt in the tissue as the practitioner glides the cup up and down the length of the muscle being treated. The area is assessed through palpation, with further treatment applied if tension or congestion are still present within the fascial network.   In areas of heavy restriction, the practitioner may leave one or more cups along the length of the muscle and carry out active release techniques. This helps release trigger points and breaks up adhesions, restoring the tissue to its optimal length. A slight feeling of warmth or burning can sometimes be felt within the tissue when this technique is carried out. This is the adhesions or layers of stuck connective tissue breaking apart as the muscle dysfunction is being addressed.  Post treatment, patients often report the targeted muscles feel a lot more pliable and relaxed.  Myofascial cupping can cause erythema (redness) or purpura (bruising) from a few hours through to two weeks post treatment. However, this is not as common as other forms of traditional cupping, due to the cups not being left in a static position for a long period of time. Myofascial cupping may cause small reds dots to appear on the skins surface (petechiae). This is a desirable effect of the blood being pulled from the capillaries to the surface of the skin indicating an increased blood flow to the treated area. Patients can often feel 'wiped out', tired and/or emotional for a few hours after a treatment. There are instances whereby the treatment may actually increase the pain symptoms, or the pain moves to another place within the body. This is a normal part of the body's healing process and should be communicated with your therapist on the next treatment.  Continue with normal daily activity post treatment as the lymph system relies on muscle contraction to filter out toxins.  Strenuous activity should be avoided for the remainder of the day.