It could be from a new treatment that I offer called "negative pressure" soft-tissue mobilization. In July, I took another continuing education course for your benefit: "Myofascial Decompression Technique". It's a modern twist on a traditional Chinese "cupping" method to "pull out" your adhesions and scar tissue (versus compression with my hands). It really gets the "cement" out.
Traditionally, glass cups were heated with a flame and placed on the body on various acupuncture points to stimulate stagnant Chi (or energy) to flow again after an injury. But I have a set of plastic cups that come with a (much safer) vacuum
pump. The class was taught by one of the Cal Berkeley physical
therapists (Chris DaPrato DPT, CSCS) and he showed us how to apply it to
adhesions. Basically, a negative pressure is formed under the cup that
"peels" the superficial layers of skin and fascia apart. I use it on
places where traditional soft tissue mobilization (compression) and ART
don't work. Click
here to see Chris's website.
I
have been using it on myself and clients with amazing results. 95% of
my clients increased their range of motion in one visit. Half of those
clients also reported
immediate decreased pain!
Here is what Chris's website says about cupping:
"
Myofascial Decompression Techniques are a set of manual therapy treatment techniques which evolved out of addressing sports and orthopedic injuries which did not respond well to joint mobilization, HVLATs, soft tissue work, muscle energy, or theraputic exercise. Simply addressing symptom based articular, neural, or muscular restrictions are temporary fixes when the root cause of the problem is connective tissue matrix dysfunction or fascial plane restricition. Without addressing the root issue as it relates to patient's impairments, we often see only marginal outcomes out of traditional rehabilitation methods.
Maximize your results with techniques that combine efficient biomechanical patterns with foundations of MFR, Muscle Energy, Rolfing, PNF, and tool assisted soft tissue methods."
Traditional Cupping is also used in day spas in Colorado. Here is what one spa website has to say:
"Myofascial Cupping is an Asian ancient technique where
'cups' are applied to soft tissue areas,
(muscles, fascia-tissue that's located directly
under the skin, ligaments and tendons), that
have congestion (areas that you feel 'tight'
and painful)! This is a GREAT treatment for
chronic pain! Normally, immediate relief is
felt! Multiple treatments are normally needed
to reverse pain patterns. Cupping commonly
leaves red to purple areas where the cups were
applied. The more toxins in the tissue where
the cup is applied-the darker the areas will
be."
Most people are not sore after the treatment and feel great relief. If you are sore,
after care simply involves continuing to gently stretch and move the area, apply moist heat, and use a homeopathic anti-bruising cream or gel, such as Arnica or Traumeel.
Let me know if you have any questions and sign up for a session today.
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