Does Manual Therapy Work?
Learn about manual therapy, including cupping, scraping, and dry needling. Find out how these therapies work and how they can help reduce pain and improve blood flow.
BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy
I return athletes to sport pain free. || Providing quality rehab info without the BS https://t.co/fMDOZyHRiA
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Manual therapy
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
Everyone loves cupping, scraping and dry needling
But do they work?
👇 pic.twitter.com/59jk58kY0d -
Cupping works via myofascial decompression; the opposite of massage
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
Essentially this lengthens the tissue which improves blood flow and reduces pain
Cupping works by creating a vacuum inside the cup which then pulls the tissue up and into the cup -
There are 3 types of cupping:
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
-dry
-fire
-wet -
Dry and fire cupping work the same way but one makes you look cool
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
The only difference is the medium used to create a vacuum is different pic.twitter.com/KnBYhF4CbZ -
Wet cupping is done as follows:
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
-Several minutes if dry cupping
-Removal of cups
-Making small incisions on the same area
-Putting dry cups back on -
The concept behind this is the same as blood letting and leeches
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
There can be a similar benefit to giving blood pic.twitter.com/jg8wZQfrvZ -
All of the data on cupping as a whole is limited
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
Everything is going to be anecdotal
I have "seen" it help with pain primarily but this may be placebo as people see the marks and think that means its working -
Scraping
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
This compresses the tissue, causing a microtrauma to the area
This microtrauma then initiates the healing response pic.twitter.com/tEaxNhfZVL -
Additionally, scraping WILL NOT break up scar tissue
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
Scar tissue requires 1,000lbs/square inch to break up
Find me a person who can exert that much force and someone who can then tolerate it
You won't -
Dry needling
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
Works similarly to scraping
Small needles are placed deep in the tissue to cause microtrauma
This then promotes healing pic.twitter.com/BlgEAeOnTZ -
Are all modalities placebo?
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
Maybe
Does placebo work?
Yes
At the end of the day, if a certain manual therapy works for YOU, keep doing it -
That's it.
— BowTied Kobra, Rehab Guy (@bowtiedkobra) April 17, 2023
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