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Cupping was first used in Chinese medicine and is now also used by Western-trained therapists as a complementary treatment to massage the muscles and fascia. Cups are usually placed on specific areas or points on the body, usually at the site of pain and the corresponding regions of tension and tightness; using a hand-held pump and vacuum, the muscles and fascia are drawn into the cup, creating a localised area of stretch and blood flow to help relieve muscle tension. Kieran will often put the cups on one area while simultaneously treating another area of the body, so you, in effect, get multiple areas treated at the same time.

Similar to cupping, Chinese medicine used acupuncture long before dry needling started to be used by Western therapies. Although the training, theory, and philosophy are very different. However, the technique of inserting very fine needles is very similar. Dry needling is often used at trigger points or “knots” to help ease pain. Kieran uses dry needling sparingly as he has found the hands-on muscle work and cupping to be more effective for most people, and he only uses it in very specific cases to improve outcomes. Kieran may refer to a Chinese acupuncturist if he feels they need more specialised needlework, as acupuncturists complete a 4-year university degree in this field.

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