More than a Muscle

The use of Myofascial Cupping technique for the prevention of injury
 

David Sheehan – Founder of Myofascial Cupping technique

For so many years now, we’ve been taught in our A and P classes to identify origins and insertions of muscles without taking into account another system which is integral to optimal function in day to day life.  Nowhere in my experiences, did I come across the concept that fascia could influence, and indeed be the potential cause of soft tissue injury.

Fascia provides structural and functional continuity between the body’s hard and soft tissues, as an ubiquitous elastic–plastic, component that invests, supports and separates, connects and divides, wraps and gives cohesion, to the rest of the body – playing an important role in transmitting mechanical forces between muscles (Huijing 2009).

The diagram above illustrates how fascial tissues differ in terms of their density and directional alignment of collagen fibers. As indicated, there are substantial overlap areas in which a clear tissue category will be difficult or arbitrary. Not shown here are retinaculae and joint capsules, whose local properties may vary between those of ligaments, aponeuroses and proper fasciae.

As suggested above, Fascia plays an integral role in movement. Until quite recently it was muscle alone that was considered unique in its ability to contract. However, recent research has shown that a specific component in fascia known as myofibroblasts (MFBs) have contractile ability and in measuring the level of force, show that they also contribute to the contractile nature of soft tissue. So we now have the term, myo+fascia – or myofascial tissue, which is the combination of contractile cells both in the muscle and fascial tissues.

With this in mind, body workers should now be mindful that their interventions now impact not only muscle, but can also change the function of fascia. And importantly, both must be in good health. If for instance, your client has dehydrated fascia, or worse still, fascial adhesions, this can play out in restricting the ability of the strong contractile nature of muscle to execute smooth movement, which in turn can lead potentially to injury.

Myofascial Cupping interventions

To ensure maintaining full function of the myofascial network, the technique of Myofascial Cupping introduces a quick, painless and effective method of passively stretching muscle and fascia using negative pressure, which stretches, separates and assists in bringing nutrient-rich blood to an area.

It also can assist in re-setting the fascial network via this separating of tissue and allowing the fascia to hydrate, resulting in a more optimal level of Critical Fibre Distance (CFM) between collagen fibres which in turn reduces the incidence of fascial adhesion.

For clients with reduced range of movement (ROM), no other massage technique has this ability using negative (tensional) pressure on soft tissue to break down fascial adhesions which restrict ROM, which can be measured before and after a treatment.

Many of my students practicing these techniques also describe how they are able to save their thumbs (self-care) and thereby giving them an ability to stay working in the profession longer without damaging their hands.

David Sheehan has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement), Diploma of Health Science (Remedial Massage) and Diploma of Education. His career highlights include working as a lead sports trainer with various football clubs, which included the use of vacuum cupping for both prevention of and treatment for injuries.

Over time, David has developed these skills and now teaches his own energy efficient and effective cupping techniques to massage therapists and physiotherapists in Australia that has included therapists from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), New Zealand, Canada and the Unites States.

MORE INFORMATION

David teaches his 2-day Myofascial Cupping workshop in Australia, Canada and the USA. His Australian dates for 2013 can be found here here

Complementary Health Seminars
PO Box 5086
Alphington VIC 3078
W: www.comphs.com.au
E: [email protected]
T: 03 9481 6724