Cupping Therapy & Recovery At Endurance on 8th

Michael Phelps credits cupping for speeding up his recovery during Olympics

Athletes all over the world from Wang Qun in the 2008 Olympics to tennis pro Andy Murray and more recently, the Mets, all talk about how cupping therapy has helped them perform better. Mets’ players like Daisuke Matsuzaka, Matt Harvey, Bobby Abreu, and Jacob deGrom reveal how the therapy when used in combination with other forms of treatment has helped them heal from injuries and also speed up the recovery process after they have had surgery. Nick Paparesta who acts as the trainer for the Oakland Athletics admits that cupping therapy not only alleviates muscular stiffness, but also helps erase scars from surgery.

Removing Toxins

Cupping therapy is highly effective in helping athletes recover from the strenuous training they subject their bodies to. During intensive training, the athletes develop micro tears in their muscles and tissues. As these tissues heal, they help boost stamina and performance. However, the stress also leads to a buildup of toxins like cholesterol, calcium deposits, uric acid, and lactic acid in the muscles. If not cleared, these toxins can hamper the healing of the tissues. Cupping can break down the chemical structure of the compounds into simpler forms that can be expelled from the body by natural processes. For example, uric acid converts into ureates that can be easily eliminated by the urinary system.

Aleviate Inflammation

In addition, cupping therapy can help heal the inflammation and stiffness in the joints. The reverse pressure exerted during cupping works to pull the tissues and muscles off the bones. The vacuum thus created fills with fresh blood and lymph that is rich in oxygen and nutrients. These infusions flood the affected area and cause it to heal. The lymph brings with it compounds that boost the body’s immunity besides aid in the healing process. While conventional medicine aims at suppressing inflammation, cupping therapy works to remove the causes of the inflammation. In this way, it speeds up healing and also removes pain and stress in the tissues.

Relief from Plantar Fasciitis

Myofascial decompression or cupping can help provide relief to athletes suffering from plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a ligament or a flat band-like tissue that connects the toes to the heel bone. Plantar fasciitis is a condition where the plantar fascia becomes inflamed and weak and as a result the patient feels an excruciating pain and is unable to set the foot down. Cupping can help relax this inflammation and thus, relieve the pain.
Cupping as Myofascial Decompression

Cupping therapy can also help relieve hamstring strains, and myofascial restrictions even if they result from training and not from some injury. The treatment helps increase flexibility so athletes can train longer and harder. When the procedure was performed on athletes, they noted better a better range of active flexion and extension movement. Cupping can also treat musculoskeletal injuries and relieve the spasms athletes suffer when undergoing intensive training.

Cupping therapy is an excellent form of noninvasive treatment that can help athletes enhance their performance and train better. If you would like to try the treatment, take care to look for a certified practitioner who is trained in myofascial decompression or cupping therapy. Many athletic trainers and physical therapists also take training and courses in the therapy. Make sure you choose one who has the required licensing and has the testimonials of other athletes that have taken the sessions with successful improvements.

Cupping Therapy is provided at Endurance on 8th Health Centre by the following practitioners:

Dr. Limin Lo

Katrina Brisebois, RMT

References:
1. http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-16791/3-reasons-everyone-should-try-cupping.html
2. http://www.johntsagaris.co.uk/2014/06/what-is-cupping-therapy-the-alternative-it-trend-explained/
3. https://breakingmuscle.com/video/breaking-muscle-video-cupping-demonstration-explanation
4. http://breakingmuscle.com/mobility-recovery/new-methods-of-myofascial-decompression-cupping-for-athletes
5. http://morganmassage.com/2012/04/01/sports-and-orthopedic-cupping/
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3853699/

Dawn's Testimonial

I was always an active person, going to the gym 5 days a week and playing on various sports teams for fun. However, I was not in the shape I wanted to be in. I didn't know what I was doing wrong - after all I was very active and eating "healthy", even if I was grinding away at my desk job 8-14 hours a day (depending on the season). In January 2014, I set a personal goal to compete in a fitness competition. I was referred to Endurance on 8th, by a friend and hit it off with Wendy right away. She was knowledgeable and tailored my meal plans specific to my intolerances, as I have a several dietary restrictions which I realize now were causing me to be bloated, have inflammation, and left me feeling overall rundown. I wasn't sure I would be able to achieve my goal with no whey proteins, no dairy, no gluten, and being allergic to tree products (nuts, certain spices ... especially pepper), but Wendy was able to create an effective meal plan taking into consideration all my restrictions. While there were times, I was envious of some of the foods other people got to eat during their prep, I knew sticking to my plan was the best thing for my health! 
 
I fell in love with the lifestyle: the training, meal prep (even though some days were tough) and the friends I made during the process. I competed at the NPAA Canada Championships, placing 4th in Bikini tall and 6th in Fitness tall in my second show. I'm continuing to train and I'm embracing the "off-season" or muscle building phase, with the goal of competing again in the future.
 
Thank-you for believing in me Wendy!

- Dawn Munro

Pull Up Variations

Try adding these pull up variations to your current training routine.

Looking for a quick routine for your busy schedule?

Try completing 5 sets of the below exercises and

contact us today for customized plans:

5 Pull Ups (any of the above options)
5 Push Ups
5 Jump Squats
5 Burpees
5 Split Lunges

Holiday Survival Tips

Surviving that yummy holiday temptation....

We all look forward to time off with our families, sitting around in the kitchen gabbing, laughing and trying out some family recipes. However, the week after many of us feel sluggish, maybe even a bit guilty for a bit of holiday overindulgence. So the question is how do you get through the big dinner without compromising your health and fitness goals?

1. Get out earlier that day and go for a workout, power walk with the family or just play outside with the kids. If you can follow this level of activity for at least one hour you are destined to burn between 200-700 extra calories.

2. Drink lots of water that day, so you will feel fuller and also keep your thirst in check so you are less likely to go for sweets or other food cravings that we often think we need when we are actually just dehydrated and need some clean H2O.

3. Have the lean protein such as the white turkey breast (skin off), chicken breast or fish.  If you are vegetarian or vegan consume high protein vegetables (beans, lentils, peas, kale, etc). Say no to gravy, extra sauces or salty additions.

4. Say yes to veggies and salad. We often tell clients and patients, if you are invited out for dinner and are unsure of what will be on the table, then bring the host a very nice garden salad, not only are you being helpful you know it is one item you can eat!

5. Say no to alcohol, 1 drink is approximately 100 calories (1.5 oz of hard alcohol or wine or beer) if you have three that is 300 calories, if you have 10 that is equivalent to 1 pound of extra weight you have just put on. Remember 1 pound of body fat is 3500 calories, so the little extras really add up.

Last but not least, remember to have fun and be proud of your commitment to living a healthy lifestyle and remember to give thanks to those people and things around you that you feel proud to be around or have accomplished this year!

www.endurance8health.com

Jaymi's Testimonial

In October 2015 I started a new job and quickly realized that a staple of our office culture was to ensure that we had on hand, at all times, every snack food imaginable! You name it, we had it. This lead to almost daily overindulgence and after a few short months I had gained several pounds. My clothes no longer fit and I felt miserable knowing that I had blatantly ignored the scale and was now paying the price. *Queue multiple morning wardrobe changes* Ugh..

When I received the email from Endurance advertising the New Year, New You challenge, I decided immediately that I would enrol regardless of the cost. The greatest barrier for me in regards to weight loss and keeping weight off is accountability. When I lack accountability, to myself or anyone else, I gain weight. What I loved about this challenge, even more than the carefully structured meal plans and training regimes, was that I had to take a picture of myself every week and email it to Wendy. For me, knowing that I had to take that picture and send it to a third party was immensely motivating. Slowly, I started to see results which added to that motivation. Before long, I started feeling accountable to myself and was proud of what I was accomplishing. The nutrition plans ensured I rarely felt hungry but rather, satisfied. The training programs were comprehensive and although I had to make some minor adjustments (with guidance and permission from Wendy), I found them fun and even started to look forward to my post-work workout. LOVE this!

From participating in this challenge I learned a few invaluable things. First, when it comes to my weight, I live by accountability. I will continue to take a weekly picture and my measurements to keep an eye on my progress and to ensure I don’t ignore my health again. Food prep played a huge role in my success. A couple of hours on Sunday set the tone for nutritious eating throughout the week. Eating the occasional snack still happened but I accounted for it and didn’t beat myself up over the slip. Paying attention to my caloric intake and macros have also become habit and this is another form of accountability.

Finally, I want to thank Wendy and Kevin for providing this service as it really does work if you are dedicated and trust the process. Going to the gym regularly and proper nutrition have once again become a fundamental part of my lifestyle. Although the challenge is over, the residual effect is that I intend to improve; to keep going, become more knowledgeable about nutrition and weight training and to become the strongest and healthiest version of myself yet.