Cupping Therapy can be billed under Massage Therapy or Acupuncture – this will depend on which therapist you see!
How does cupping therapy work?
The cups can be made of glass, plastic or silicone. A vacuum is created in the cups, then placed on your body, where the skin, fascia, and connective tissue are drawn into the cup. This suction draws blood flow to the area while creating space between all the layers of your body. A Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturist or Practitioner is also trained to in cupping therapy according to the medical system to help regulate and balance the body.
When the skin and tissue are drawn upwards, there is a physical space that is created between skin, fascia, and muscle. Think about when you are trying to undo a bad knot – the more you just yank at it – the worse it gets. If you take the time to pull apart the knotted area and open it up, you can then finally untie it. This is the same thing with cupping, we are pulling and opening up already tense and knotted muscle to release it.
What does it do?
Unrestricted and proper circulation is essential for any healing process to occur in our bodies. By forcing blood to an area, we promote blood flow and stimulate a beneficial healing immune response. Fresh blood brings more oxygen to the local area, and as our bodies clear away the marks, it will naturally clear up all the accumulated toxins and stagnated blood in the surrounding tissue.
Cupping marks are NOT bruises. Bruising is caused by trauma to the body which results in the damage and rupture of blood vessels. The marks are a result of the pool of red blood cells that are drawn out of capillaries. They are not sore, do not turn a purple/green/yellow color, and disappear within 2-10 days. Yes – cupping can CAUSE bruising when done without care and proper training. That’s why it’s so important to always make sure your therapist has proper cupping therapy training! Marks appear differently on every body; some darker and more purple, some lighter and paler. Not one is better than the other, they just indicate different things (e.g. different circulation).
What is Cupping Therapy Good For?
Upper back and neck tension
Low back pain
Improving blood circulation
Breaking up scar tissue
Tendonitis
Sports Injuries
Decreasing inflammation
What to expect during your appointment?
Light cupping ● Should feel very gentle and comfortable. ● No marks, or very slight redness after which should disappear after a day or two. ● Beneficial for: lymphatic drainage, stress relief, edema, acute injury/sprain, children and elderly, blood.
Medium cupping ● More tension in the cups, comfortable, slight tenderness over trigger points and tight areas. ● Very light to medium marking. ● Beneficial for: muscle tension, injury repair, improve muscle recovery, increasing range of motion, fascial release, cough/colds/flu, lung congestion, scar tissue. ● Most commonly used
Strong cupping ● Lots of tension in the cups, feeling of tightness and tenderness over trigger points and restricted fascia ● Medium to dark marking ● Beneficial for: major fascial adhesions and restrictions, very robust/strong body types ● Sports therapy ● Not for everybody
Cupping is a wonderful therapy that can be incorporated into many modalities including massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractics and of course acupuncture! It’s not something to be afraid of when done by a trained professional. Cupping therapy has been a practice that has been around for thousands of years and passed on in families from generation to generation – now we bring the art and the science together to really harness the healing powers of our own bodies.
Check out our instagram posts about cupping therapy to learn more!
Combining cupping therapy with massage
Cupping Therapy in addition to soft tissue work is a perfect blend to ease some tension in those annoying tigh muscles.
Put yourself first for a change and give that body some much needed recovery time. Goals don’t get accomplished as efficiently as they can if you aren’t at your best!
This form of therapy involves warming and placing cups, usually made of plastic or glass, on the skin. By warming the air within the cup, a vacuum is created, and when it is applied to the skin, the tissue is drawn up into the cup.
This increases the blood flow, loosens the fascia/connective tissue, decreases muscle tension, improves muscle fiber repair and promotes healing.
Here are a few cupping FAQs: 🔹️Improves blood flow and relieves muscle tension 🔹️Can be used for back/neck pain, migraines, and knee arthritis 🔹️Improves immune function 🔹️No it doesn’t hurt 🔹️Yes it’s extremely relaxing 🔹️Yes it’s great for sore muscles 🔹️The spots fade within a week
Great experience with Axis. Every time I phone the office, right away someone will pick up the call. It is so easy to book the appointments! I love their online booking option, straightforward, timely reminders, easy to find the service availabilities, extremely flexible to reschedule, you can put yourself on the waitlist if you wish to see a specific staff. All the staffs are very professional, I always feel so relaxed when I leave the office.Everyone is so nice on the team, I always feel welcomed! I would 100% recommend my family and friends!
The front team is a dream. They’re very pleasant & helpful, greeting everyone upon entry. The space is nice & clean— very sleek decor with nice touches of greenery.Parking is generous with a super easy registration process.I see Rex for fascial stretch therapy. He’s super knowledgeable & great at communicating what’s happening throughout the treatment in ways that I understand. I’m super grateful for the mobility homework he gives me. I work from home & spend most of my day sitting. I strength train regularly, but the assessment & tools I receive from Rex really help my to excel in my mobility goals.Thanks, Rex!
Carolyn did a great job in tending to the specific area I had trouble with in my back while also getting rid of other tight spots I wasn’t aware of. Beyond the massage itself, we had great conversation over the other services Axis offers that will be beneficial as well as tips for stretching and overall conditioning so I can be my best self when I go back to work. Definitely will be coming back!
I absolutely love this place, it is the best the people are great. They are so friendly, warm and welcoming. They make you so comfortable you want to come back. They had me laughing for like 7 minutes straight one day. The services they provide are phenomenal, they are very professional and know what they're doing every time I leave I feel very good and relaxed. Very clean environment. I will always use their services. I highly recommend Axis.
I’ve been visiting the team at Axis for a few months now to see a chiropractor, for cupping, and for acupuncture. It’s truly made a significant difference in my healing process and have tremendous confidence in the abilities of the team. The Riverdale clinic is absolutely beautiful and very clean. Highly recommend!
A second-to-none experience. Front desk is hospitable and very friendly! I’ve done a few appointments with Emma and she is absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable in her expertise and solved my chronic back-pain within just a session. Wish I had an extra thumb to give it three thumbs up, two isn’t enough
Can't recommend this place enough! Erika is amazing at what she does & does a phenomenal job of targeting areas that need attention. Really recommend her services - the cupping, body work & acupuncture trifecta is a perfect combination and I look forward to each visit. Additionally, everyone I've encountered at Axis is very friendly and easy to chat with; overall, a wonderful atmosphere to be a part of.
Absolutely love this place.Have done several FST and Deep Tissue sessions with Rex. He is fantastic and has the best hair line. Guarantee you’ll be taken care of.Update: Rex is unreal. Wow. Does not get enough credit for the work he does. Where immense knowledge meets application. You are the best.
Always a 10/10 experience at Axis. The front desk staff is super friendly and helpful. I have been going for acupuncture/cupping/massage with Erika for my back pain. She really cares about my concerns and takes her time with me. She is also super knowledgable and hilarious. I feel amazing after my treatments. I tell all my friends and family to go see her!! I highly recommend!
Emma gave me one of the best massages I've ever had. We discussed my problem areas before starting and I was surprised at how intuitive she was. I felt the full effects of the one-hour deep tissue massage and was sad to see the time was already up! Very impressed overall 🙂
My Genuine Review for Axis Therapy:This was my first visit to Axis and I don't mind going back there for my future treatments for following reasons:First of all, the people. Everyone is so professional and welcoming.They make you feel at home.I went there to treat my foot pain. I was having very bad foot pain.so I decided to try massage therapy. I booked a session with Emma Woodhouse to try the therapy for the very first time and i don't regret my decision. I am very much impressed with her massage therapy sessions. Emma is very professional , very knowledgeable and knows her job very well.Within just 3 sessions she managed to reduce my foot pain to great extent. She also gave me some excercises which is helping me a lot.I can definitely recommend Emma to everyone.Secondly, I liked the Place and Ambience.This place is so professionally managed and designed ( I really liked the hanging plants at the waiting area ).Its super clean and make you feel fresh on every visit.Definitely worth visiting.
I have been fortunate to visit Axis Therapy and Performance on a regular basis for over 4 years and have always been pleased with their exceptional service. From a warm greeting at the door, to very specific and detailed treatments from the lovely therapists, I know I’m in good hands! I am a VERY HAPPY regular.M. Mekni
My girlfriend and I had a great experience at Axis. I am a physiotherapy student and I already know where I will be applying once I graduate! The customer experience from the initial call to the front desk and to the therapist is flawless and seamless. I felt like they actually cared and was taken care of every step of the way. I love that they don't use machines or send me off to assistants. The hands on approach has helped me more than what the other clinics provided me. I also love the vibe of the space and the team, they clearly all love what they do, have fun, and speak highly of each other. I have been to other clinics like Myodetox or Evolve, and although they are great and have a similar model, its the customer care from the front desk, positive environment, and the quick results my gf and I received that would put Axis above the rest. I would give more stars if I could. I have already highly recommend Axis Therapy & Performance to my friends and family.
First time going to Axis. Emma has some magical hands!! She was able to identify the root cause of my pain! Emma made me feel comfortable throughout the whole process. After my session, I felt great! Highly recommend Emma for RMT. Lady at front desk was so kind! Will definitely return! Also not to mention, Emma is 😍!
I’ve had a few injuries and physical issues in my lifetime and I also had some physiotherapists and chiropractors attend to me and my needs. I have to say Dr. Tiffany has been a rare combo of getting the best medical help I can get plus an absolute awesome personality to come with it. Its just great to receive one of the best medical attention out there and couple it with that fun personality that makes you comfortable and eager to come back for more. It takes away the natural fear of seeking medical help … and that itself if awesome … Thanks Dr. Tiffany, Thanks Axis
Had an amazing massage experience with Emma! I prefer heavy pressure for my massages, I get deep tissue and Emma did not disappoint! She was able to hit all the necessary spots to relieve tension in my body. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Dr.Lim(b) - pun intended- is amazing.She’s incredibly patient and you get a real sense that she not only cares about you as a patient, but also you as a person.After every session I feel encouraged and excited to for what exercises and goals that she sets for me to help myself!I’ve finally found a chiropractor that actually does their job diligently and is caring.
Staff are so welcoming and friendly. An easygoing environment that is clean and well maintained. Received FST with Rex and was not disappointed. He always makes sure that I am comfortable and is super attentive during every appointment I've been to. I'm feeling stronger, flexible and now able to do more and get more out of my workouts.
Axis is the place to go! Be it for Teens, Young Adults, Adults, All Age Range! My family has had great experience with the multiple services they offer. I have been going to Axis for over a year, and can say that the staff is amazing; friendly, helpful, supportive, professional and understanding! A great environment to get treated!
I found Axis by searching top rated clinic of this kind and I am so glad that I tried it. With so many good reviews, I am sure that they are all wonderful professionals, and I started with Dr. Edward and wow, he was amazing! I didn't feel the need to ask a lot of questions as I could feel that I was in good hands. Dr. Edward is an awesome chiropractor, he knows what he does, truly professional. Front desk staff is very friendly and pleasant. And of course, the clinic is very clean. Great experience!
I've been coming to this clinic for a long time now as I'm beyond satisfied with the services they provide. Very professional and very good customer service. Highly recommended. 👍
I love this place. It’s my Go To. Dr. Ed is wonderful and so is the rest of the team. I’ve been doing accupuncture on my ankle due to swelling and Dr. Ed is simply amazing. He’s so nice and welcoming, and very educated. He makes you feel very comfortable. The entire staff is awesome as well. They answer any questions in regards to insurance which is really helpful.Thank you guys for everything ☺️
