Dynamic Cupping

We offer Dynamic Cupping in both our Canmore and Banff clinics.

Dynamic Cupping is one of many methods of cupping that our therapist use. This method of cupping the therapist uses silicone cups using a negative pressure on the skin.  The cup is suctioned onto the skin and then gliding movements either along the muscle fibre direction or against are used.

The two day course that our Massage Therapists have taken is through Seminars for Health. View their course and techniques.  HERE In this course the therapist learns techniques on how to use the cups and also which directions to pull or glide the cup  to maximize soft tissue mobility and function.

What Happens in a Cupping/Massage Treatment?

• Its basically the same as getting a massage except with added cupping techniques. Using cups during a treatment does not take away from a massage in-fact it enhances the massage experience.
• You can ask for a lot of cupping or a little cupping. You can also ask to try cupping. To try cupping the therapist may just apply one cup for a few minutes for you to see if it is something that you like or not.
• The therapist usually starts off with massage and palpates areas that may require cupping . The cups are then applied by pushing down on the cup to extract the air out of the cup. The therapist then moves the cup around which creates a stretching feeling.
• Most clients LOVE the feeling of the cups. The pulling/stretching is a relieving feeling and alleviates the tension out of a muscle.

Why Dynamic Cupping

• Increases blood flow to muscles (enhances circulation)
• Stretches out the muscles – The “vacuum effect” of cupping pulls on the muscles and as the therapist glides the cup the muscle gets a gentle stretch
• Provides a feeling of relief from physical and emotional tensions
• Warms the skin, and softens tissues to regain elasticity

Common Conditions and Symptoms Treated by Cupping:

• IT Band tightens or pain
• Knee pain
• Shoulder stiffness or soreness
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Numbness in hands
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Frozen Shoulder

Who Cupping works well on:

• Climbers: Cupping works amazing on forearms tightens and getting “pumped out” arms. All you climbers know the kind of pump that your forearms feel, the burns and muscle weakness. Its the result of lactic acid build up from gripping. Cupping stretches out the fascia and muscles.
• Cross Country skiers: double poling shoulder tightness, IT Band tightness, ankle and hip tightness. Dynamic cupping also helps open up the shoulders by cupping along the pec muscles and front of the shoulder where the rotator cuff muscles attach.
• Runners: IT Band! Ohhh the IT band in runners is always a problem. If you haven’t tired cupping on your It band and your quads you need to give it a try!
• Mountain bikers: Early season your legs aren’t use to working that hard and so your lower back suffers.  Cupping helps loosen up the lower back by working on the muscles along the spine and the top of the gluts.
• Desk Jockeys: As much as we hate to admit it when we aren’t playing in the mountains many of us are sitting at a desk making the dolla dolla bills.  The WORST posture comes from sitting at a desk, hunched over, shoulders rolled forward, and neck jetted out.
• Pretty Much anybody! If you like massage you will probably like Dynamic Cupping.

Therapist that Dynamic Cup:

Almost all of our therapist do some form of cupping. There are different types of cups: fire cupping, pump cups and silicone cups. Everyone has their own style and uses their own type of cup.  The therapist that use silicone cups and do Dynamic Cupping are:

• Thea
• Angela
• Kara
• Mike
• Aaryn
• Lindsay A.