Have you ever seen someone about to paddle out and noticed dark circular markings up and down their back and wondered “What did they do to themselves?” No, they didn’t just have a run in with a large octopus or have a fight with a vacuum, but chances are they did have a therapeutic treatment called cupping. And if you watched the 2016 summer olympics, you probably saw these markings as well.
So what is cupping?
Cupping dates back centuries, to early China, Egypt and Greece. It eventually spread to the Americas and Europe. Originally, practitioners used pieces of bamboo or hollowed-out animal horns to create suction, placed on specific regions of the body often correlating to acupuncture points. Today, glass, silicon, or plastic cups are placed on the body to loosen tight muscles, break up adhesions, and increase blood flow to an area to quicken healing time.
A suction is formed between the cup and the body, pulling up on the skin, fascia, and superficial muscle layer to unwind the taught bands and adhesions that may have formed from an injury or over use. Cupping literally pulls these small adhesions apart in a way that actually feels good. Really, it does feel good. The suction opens pores to allow for better blood flow to encourage healing, described like a deep tissue massage in reverse. The body sometimes needs decompression instead of compression; lifting up and away. For most patients it is a very relaxing and tension relieving treatment. Many top athletes both at the Olympic level and even some of the top surfers on the WSL are using cupping as a therapeutic modality. Often these treatments are performed by a licensed acupuncturist, physical therapist, or chiropractor.
So what are the benefits of cupping to a surfer?
- Increased paddle strength and range of motion: Cupping relaxes tight muscles by breaking up adhesions and knots that may be keeping them locked up. It’s often used on areas such as the back, neck, and shoulders. Also known to help forearms, hips, IT bands, and hamstrings.
- Speeds up recovery time: The cups help bring fresh blood and nourishment to an area in need, therefore shortening recovery time.
- Immune boosting: For a lingering cough or chest congestion, give cupping a try to clear it up. It stimulates the lymphatic system by creating a pathway for toxins to be drawn out of the body. It can be used as a preventive to getting sick or as a cure if one has already caught a nasty bug.
- Reduces Stress: Yes, surfing reduces stress, but so does cupping. Why not get a double dose of natural ways to reduce stress? Cupping is energetically very releasing, lifting the tension and stress up and away.
- Asthma: Cupping relaxes the body, calming the whole system (circulatory, muscular, and nervous) which reduces sensitivity to stressors that may bring on an attack as well as helping the circulation in the lung area.
What is actually happening?
Depending on which type of cups are used, whether it’s glass, plastic, or silicon, the suction can be created by a pump or burning out the oxygen in the cup with a flame and then quickly applying it to the skin. This is referred to as “fire cupping” (my favorite). The suction causes the skin to be slightly drawn up into the cup, which brings circulation to the area. There are a few different methods of cupping. One is referred to as “static cupping” (no movement) and the other is “sliding cupping” (with movement), where an oil or massage lotion is applied to the skin so the cups can be moved around, massaging the muscle at the same time there is suction.
Now getting back to those red markings discussed at the beginning. The large curcular marks aren’t bruises, but broken blood vessels or capillaries (just like a hickey). There is usually no pain associated with cupping. As I mentioned before, it actually feels quite good. Many of my patients often request cupping when they come in for their acupuncture treatment, which I’m happy to oblige. It not only feels great, but it’s fun to do.
So why not try it for yourself? It may be that one thing to get you back in the water sooner after an injury or get you more waves in your next session thanks to having less tension and more energy.
