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Myofascial Decompression (MFD) is a manual therapy technique used in physical therapy to address myofascial pain. This type of pain originates from the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding and supporting muscles. MFD utilizes negative pressure to stretch and release the fascia, thereby reducing pain and improving range of motion. During the therapy session, a physical therapist applies a gentle pull using a suction cup creating a vacuum on the skin and underlying tissue. This vacuum helps stretch the fascia, release adhesions and restrictions, improve blood flow, and alleviate pain.
MFD, also known as Cupping or Cup Therapy, is the therapeutic application of cups to help treat musculoskeletal problems. The plastic, rubber, or glass cups produce suction, which creates negative pressure underneath the cup. The negative pressure helps to decompress the area by lifting the skin and the layer of tissue underneath the skin, known as fascia, up into the cup. This temporary increase in space allows the underlying tissues to relax, which reduces pain and improves function.
MFD evolved out of addressing sports and orthopedic injuries that did not respond to traditional joint mobilizations, HVLATs (High velocity low amplitude thrust), other soft tissue interventions, or therapeutic exercise. Simply addressing symptom-based articular, neural, or muscular complaints are only temporary fixes when the root cause of the problem may be connective tissue matrix dysfunction or fascial plane restriction. Without addressing soft tissue densification and the compensatory movement inefficiencies that they may cause, outcomes will be less effective.
MFD can effectively treat various conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, and muscle tension. It can target specific areas of pain or be employed as a full-body treatment. When combined with other manual therapy techniques, exercises, and modalities, MFD maximizes therapeutic outcomes. As a non-invasive and relatively painless procedure, it is well tolerated by most patients. Trained physical therapists can administer MFD as part of a comprehensive treatment plan or as a stand-alone therapy. MFD) or cupping therapy is highly beneficial for treating various chronic overuse injuries, such as:
Although bruising can occur with MFD , it is not always necessary to bruise the tissue to produce favorable results. One of the many applications of cupping involves leaving the cups in one spot on the body for several minutes while moving the surrounding body parts. The bruises you sometimes see are likely the result of a small capillary rupture produced with this particular static cupping application. This mechanism, although unsightly, increases oxygenated blood flow to the injured painful tissues inducing a healing response. Although every individual body is different, most bruising subsides within 2-10 days following treatment. Be sure to discuss the cupping application options with your physical therapist if you are concerned about the possibility of visible bruising.
MFD is based on assessing and correcting movement inefficiencies. Backgrounds in biomechanics, kinesiology, and functional anatomy are essential to identify and treat range of motion restrictions and muscular imbalance. Interventions include neuromuscular re-education, AAROM, and PNF, making the patient an active participant in their treatment.
Traditional cupping does not include active movement, and often is targeting energetic imbalances from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective. MFD is a novel approach to musculoskeletal treatment, utilizing negative pressure tools and western medicine based movement paradigms and algorithms. These applications are very effective for orthopedics, sports medicine, contractures, post-op recovery, overcoming dominance strategies, postural syndromes, hand therapy, neuro re-education, and scar mobilization.
MFD can be performed anywhere on the body where there is pain or range of motion restriction. Your clinician has been trained to avoid endangerment sites and screen you for contraindications or precautions before performing the treatment.
MFD shouldn’t be painful if performed by a licensed practitioner. Some people say it feels like a deep tissue massage, and others say they feel some tingling when the cups are tightened. However, some people may experience temporary soreness, bruising, swelling, or lightheadedness after cupping.
Massage/Myofascial Decompression with Cupping
This treatment includes trigger point therapy, neuromuscular techniques, myofascial release, and static and dynamic myofascial decompression with cupping to mobilize myofascial structures and create space around irritated and inflamed nerves to address the underlying cause of acute and chronic pain. Topical analgesics are included in this session if needed. The techniques used in this treatment will be customized to the patients’ needs based on an intake discussion.
1 Hour – $150
90 min – $225
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