Myofascial release techniques involve placing pressure on a tight or painful muscle knot, while passively or actively moving the muscle through it’s range of motion. These techniques are thought to have the added benefit of introducing more blood flow, decreasing muscle tension faster, and having a deeper effect through combining massage and movement rather than one or the other alone.

These techniques can be very effective for various sports injuries, and are often helpful to combine with joint treatments and exercise therapies. It is increasingly common for Chiropractors with an interest in sports injury treatment to be trained in these techniques. Patients often report reduced pain, improved mobility, and improved strength following a treatment.

Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy involves the use of various muscle scraping tools as a way to relax and introduce blood flow to more superficial muscles (muscles that aren’t very deep and closer to the surface).

It is often best used to help re-initiate proper healing of chronic soft tissue injuries that have not fully healed. As a result, there are times when mild bruising is seen on the surface of the skin where this technique was done, but this is not the treatment goal and should be very mild and temporary if done correctly. Patients often report reduced pain, improved mobility, and improved strength following a treatment.

Compared to other soft tissue techniques, superficial soft tissue therapies like cupping focuses on tissues closer to the surface of the skin. They are thought to target superficial nerves that may be sensitized or entrapped, as well as fascia - the layer of connective tissue found below the skin.

The main two therapeutic effects of cupping are to stimulate blood flow and to produce a traction effect of the tissues just underneath the skin (fascia and nerves).

Unlike traditional cupping where the cups are left on and often make distinct circle bruises, the cups are kept moving (with gel so they can slide) and often it is done with movement of the body underneath the cup. For example, some painful movements are pain free when a cup is applied to the irritated superficial nerve. If the nerve was causing the pain, then after removing the cup the movement is now full and pain free.

If done correctly, cupping should only lead to mild bruising, and the same techniques can also be done with a hands-only technique that leaves no marks.