Cupping therapy come from Ancient Chinese Medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. People get it for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. Read this article on the benefits of cupping.

I use cupping regularly in clinic for unresponsive muscle tension, chronic muscle tension and other pain syndromes.  I use it frequently in people who work out frequently and rigorously and are sore.  Body-builders, martial artists, and anyone engaged in high-intensity sports can greatly benefit from cupping. So can many others, however, you may not AUTOMATICALLY be a candidate for cupping.  Fibromyalgia, Auto-immune diseases and weaker or frail bodies and constitutions may react badly to cupping.

Who can do cupping?

Cupping is currently practiced by many manual therapists, including massage therapists, chiropractors and PTs.  Fire Cupping, the use of a flame to vacuum suction the cups to the body should only be used by Acupuncturists or someone with many hours of practice.  It can be very dangerous. Please ask your practitioner how much training they have had if they are NOT and OMD in Nevada.  Massage Therapists in NV are not allowed to do fire cupping.

Dry Needling- what is it and who practices it?

Dry Needling (DN) is term used frequently by Physical Therapists for the practice of inserting acupuncture needles into their patients.  DN IS acupuncture.  Another word for the technique of DN is trigger point therapy or trigger point needling and Acupuncturists incorporate this technique daily. Although acupuncture STYLES vary and some L.Ac.s and OMD may use LESS of this style of treatment, it is a part of Acupuncture education and treatment protocols.  Physical Therapists who practice DN are regulated by their state boards and states differ on standards and level of regulation.  Nevada currently allows a very limited version of DN by PT’s.

 

I look forward to seeing you in my Clinic and working with you to achieve your health goals!

Dr. Katania