Cupping guides
Foot pain: where it hurts reveals the cause, self-care that helps and how to cup the foot and calf
Where the foot hurts usually says what it is: under the heel (plantar fasciitis), at the back (the Achilles tendon), in the forefoot (metatarsalgia, Morton's neuroma), in the big toe (bunion, gout) or on the top (stress fracture, tendons). Here is a map of foot pain, what helps for each cause, when to see a doctor and how cupping of the sole and calf is used.
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Tailbone pain (coccydynia): causes, seat cushion and self-care that helps, and how to cup the buttocks without touching the tailbone
Tailbone pain (coccydynia) makes sitting difficult and often starts after a fall, childbirth or long days on hard chairs. It usually heals on its own in weeks to months. Here are the causes, self-care with a seat cushion and offloading, when to see a doctor and how cupping of the gluteal muscles can be used without touching the tailbone itself.
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Sprained ankle: first aid, when to see a doctor, rehab that prevents the next sprain and when cupping can help
A sprained ankle is a ligament injury on the outside of the ankle that almost always heals in a few weeks, but is often sprained again if rehab is skipped. Here is first aid, the signs that mean an X-ray, rehab with movement, balance and strength, and when (late in rehab) cupping the calf can help.
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Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy: what helps, what to avoid and why we do not cup the lower back during pregnancy
Pelvic girdle pain affects around one in five pregnant people and is caused by the pelvic joints becoming more mobile while the muscles have to work harder. It is harmless for the baby but can make daily life hard. Here is what helps, what to avoid, when to seek care, and why we advise against cupping on the lower back and pelvis during pregnancy.
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Upper back pain and pain between the shoulder blades: causes, exercises that help and cupping the upper back
Upper back pain and pain between the shoulder blades are usually due to stiff joints and tight muscles after a lot of sitting and screen work, but must be distinguished from heart, lung and stomach causes. Here are the causes, the warning signs, the exercises that help and how to cup the upper back.
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Teeth grinding and a tight jaw: why you clench, what helps and how to cup the jaw muscles
Teeth grinding (bruxism) and a tight jaw are linked to stress, sleep and overactive chewing muscles, and cause worn teeth, headaches and sore jaws. Here are the causes, what helps (night guard, relaxation, exercises), when to see a doctor and how to cup the jaw muscles.
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Fibromyalgia and widespread pain: symptoms, what helps in daily life and how gentle cupping can be used
Fibromyalgia is long-term pain in large parts of the body together with fatigue, poor sleep and increased pain sensitivity. The diagnosis is made by a doctor and treatment is built on adapted physical activity, knowledge, sleep and sometimes medication. Here are the symptoms, what helps, when widespread pain is something else and how gentle cupping can be used as a complement.
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Knee osteoarthritis and knee pain: what really helps, the exercise that is medicine and what cupping can add
Knee osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain after 45. The cartilage thins, the knee stiffens and aches, but the state of the joint and the pain do not always match, and adapted exercise is the best documented treatment. Here is how to recognise osteoarthritis, what helps, when to see a doctor and what research actually says about cupping for knee OA.
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Achilles tendinopathy: why the Achilles tendon hurts, the exercises that heal it and how to cup the calf around the tendon
Achilles tendinopathy is an overload of the Achilles tendon that makes it stiff and tender, especially in the morning and at the start of training. It heals with the right load, above all eccentric heel drops. Here are the causes, the programme, the warning signs of a rupture and how cupping the calf helps.
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