CUPPING THERAPY- WHAT, HOW, WHY?

Written By: Annemarie Alf, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Owner OMP
Cupping has been a hot topic since the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
It has been a ‘tool’ in my PT toolbox since early 2012 and I have been using it since.  I worked and learned daily from Chinese Medicine specialists, as they did the same from me; while I spent a year in China between 2012 and 2013. The biggest thing we both learned from one another was that the blend of Eastern and Western Therapies worked best together.  Traditional Chinese medicine techniques, such as cupping, WITH a Western style movement pattern-based exercise approach was the way our athletes got better faster!  Therefore, when I returned to the US, I began integrating cupping into my practice when appropriate.  It’s not for every person, athlete, or diagnosis; evaluation and movement assessment MUST be done 1st.  It is one piece of the puzzle, NOT the only piece.  I have made the technique my own, as most experienced practitioners do with everything; mine a more movement specific approach.

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