Contact Us

Book Now

Careers

dry needling therapy

Dry Needling Therapy, Blood Flow Restriction, & Cupping: Does It Work for Athletes?

After several months of restricted team sports, the athlete in your home is probably eager to get back out there and compete. Many athletes, both young and …ahem… not so young, will find sore muscles and injuries a drawback to their increased workouts, games, and competitions. You may be wondering if dry needling, blood flow restriction, or cupping therapy can help.

These techniques are time-tested and research-based. True Sports physical therapists are trained in all three procedures and have used them with great success. Read on for an explanation of how each one works and how each technique can benefit athletes.

Dry Needling

In dry needling, thin monofilaments are inserted into muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even scar tissue in order to increase the range of movement and to reduce pain. The filament needles inserted into myofascial trigger points create micro-trauma that jump-starts your body’s own healing process.

Although it may sound like acupuncture, this is a procedure based on Western science that has helped many athletes continue to play the sports they love. According to the Journal of American Board of Family Medicine, dry needling’s effectiveness has been confirmed in numerous studies and two comprehensive systematic reviews.

Blood Flow Restriction

Blood flow restriction (also called BFR Training) involves placing a cuff on an arm or a thigh at a set pressure, generally while an athlete is working out or training. This obstructs venous flow while still allowing arterial flow. The goal is to create the effects of high-intensity exercise during low-intensity exercise by limiting the amount of oxygen.

Benefits include increased muscle strength and building muscle, both important to athletes on their road to recovery after surgery or an injury. The physical therapists at True Sports have an expert-level foundation of knowledge in anatomy, physiology, therapeutic exercise, and the cardiorespiratory system as well as muscular and vascular anatomy and the monitoring of physiological vital signs and blood flow – all essential for administering BFR training safely.

Cupping Therapy

Remember when everyone wondered about the circles on Michael Phelps’s body in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics? That’s probably the moment when the general public first became aware of cupping, a practice that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction in order to increase blood flow, create healing, and alleviate pain.

However, athletes have long sworn by the physiological effects of this practice that started in China, thousands of years ago. The cups with manual suction are placed on the skin for 5-20 minutes. They decompress the tissue and increase blood flow, both of which reduce pain.  With a reduction in pain, athletes are able to achieve improved flexibility and complete physical therapy more effectively.

All three techniques— dry Needling, blood flow restriction, and cupping— are research-based, used widely, and effective, as documented in multiple peer review studies. Let the experts at True Sports help you decide which will be the most beneficial for you, whether you are a Saturday athlete, a Little League player, or the next Michael Phelps with your eye on future Olympic Games.  Trying to get back into shape after an injury is difficult, but True Sports has the team that’s on YOUR team. Together, we can get results.

True Sports has seven convenient locations across the Greater Baltimore Area. To schedule an appointment, call (410) 946-1672.

When Can You Return to Sports After an ACL Injury?

Read more

Shoulder Injuries are Common in Golfers

Read more

3 Common Upper Body Overuse Injuries in Young Athletes and How to Avoid Them

Read more

Knee Weakness: Get Relief + Build Strength with These 3 Home Exercises

Read more

What Can Athletes Do About Quad Shut Down?

Read more

Does Strength Prevent Injury?

Read more

True Sports Coronavirus Response

Read more

Lacrosse Injuries – The 5 Most Common with 7 Tips to Prevent them

Read more

Exercising While Wearing a Mask: Common Misconceptions

Read more

Why Elite Community Servants Need Physical Therapy STAT

Read more

Training with a CrossFit Physical Therapist Helps Avoid Common Injuries

Read more

One Major Tip for Making Your Diet a Success

Read more

The 7 Biggest Benefits of Physical Therapy

Read more

Overtraining: 7 Symptoms and What You Can Do About It Today

Read more

Dry Needling Therapy, Blood Flow Restriction, & Cupping: Does It Work for Athletes?

Read more

Shouldering the Blame for Shoulder Pain: Arthritis or Bursitis?

Read more

Why There is No Such Thing as an Off Season

Read more

Recovering from Spinal Surgery: What You Need to Know

Read more

How to Treat the Most Common Sports-Related Shoulder Injuries

Read more

The Cold Hard Facts About ACL Tear Risk Factors

Read more

Improve Your Running Form with These 8 Tips

Read more

How to Handle a Sports-Related Knee Injury

Read more

What’s Up With Barefoot Running?

Read more

How to Prevent Shoulder Impingement as an Overhead Athlete

Read more

Physical Therapy Guide for Hamstring Injuries

Read more

Knee Injuries from Soccer: Preventing Them with 3 Knee Strengthening Exercises

Read more

Gait Analysis – A Runner’s Secret Weapon Against Injury

Read more

Maximizing Your Post Injury Outcomes

Read more

4 Tips to Avoid Knee Injuries While Skiing

Read more

Don’t Let Lower Back Pain Keep You Off the Links

Read more

The Most Common Lacrosse Injuries

Read more

How Long Will My Physical Therapy Take?

Read more

The Unsung Hero of Pain Management: Nutrition

Read more

Care and Feeding of Pitchers in the Off-Season

Read more

What Can I Expect After Rotator Cuff Surgery?

Read more

3 Ways You Can Prevent Knee Injuries and Weakness

Read more

Experiencing Pain? See a Physical Therapist First

Read more

Can Athletes Benefit from Hip Arthroscopy?

Read more

High School Sports After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Returning Safely to the Game

Read more

Dry Needling: 6 Benefits To Help You Relieve Body Pain & Soreness In 1-2 Days

Read more

The Importance of a Strong Core

Read more

Golf Injuries – The 5 Most Common with 3 Tips & Stretches

Read more

Why Do We Need Sleep? (And More to the Point — How Do We Get It?)

Read more

What Athletes Need for the Ultimate Sports PT Facility

Read more

How You Can Avoid Germs at the Gym

Read more

An Awesome Inforgraphic About Lower Back Pain and Sports

Read more

How Common are Shoulder Injuries in Athletics?

Read more

Cupping Therapy: 4 Benefits & How It Can Relieve Pain Within 48 Hours

Read more

Strengthen Your Biceps With These 5 Home Workouts

Read more

7 Workout Mistakes Your Physical Therapist Doesn’t Want You to Make

Read more

Why You Should Go to Physical Therapy

Read more

Why True Sports Physical Therapy is Right For You

Read more

Is It An Ache or Am I Injured?

Read more

Groin Strains Symptoms and Treatments

Read more

Are You Ready for Golf Season?

Read more

How Athletes Avoid Knee Injuries When Competing, Practicing, Training or Working Out

Read more

How to Relieve Lower Back Pain as an Athlete

Read more

Quick Tips for Staying Motivated

Read more

Relieve Muscle Soreness With These 5 Tips

Read more

How Baseball Players Can Reduce Their Risk of UCL Injury

Read more

Cupping Therapy Relieves Pain and Encourages Healing

Read more

Physical Therapist vs Chiropractor: What's the Difference?

Read more

Some Thoughts Before Football Season

Read more

High School Sports Injuries

Read more

Is Blood Flow Restriction Training Right for You?

Read more

Staying Limber During Your Internship

Read more

What Athletes Should Know About Tendinopathy In the Shoulder

Read more

Meal Planning Tips for High School Athletes

Read more

Dry Needling vs Acupuncture: What’s The Difference?

Read more

What are Achilles Tendon Conditions Signs and Symptoms?

Read more

How to Relieve Sciatica Pain with Physical Therapy

Read more

How to Deadlift and Squat without Risking Lower Back Injury

Read more

Preventing the Most Common Lacrosse Injuries

Read more

Graston Technique 101

Read more

Is Stress Causing Your Lower Back Pain?

Read more

Get Knee Pain Relief With These 3 Stretches

Read more

Advice You Need to Train for a Marathon in 2021

Read more

Impact of Correct Posture on Sports Performance

Read more

The Risks of a Sedentary Lifestyle – Enough To Get You Moving

Read more

Make Your Outpatient Rehab Count

Read more

Relieve Back Pain Fast In 5 Ways

Read more

5 Tips to Improve & Maximize Your Athletic Performance

Read more

Physical Therapy: Why It’s Important Both Before and After Surgery

Read more

Is Elbow Arthritis Ruining Your Game?

Read more

Working from Home Shouldn’t Be a Pain in the Neck — or Back

Read more

Dry Needling Can Accelerate Recovery for Athletes

Read more

Join Volo City & Build Community Through Your Favorite Sport

Read more

Tips for Avoiding Running Injuries

Read more

6 Ways a Physical Therapist Can Enhance Your Running Performance

Read more

Attending Physical Therapy During COVID-19: Is It Safe?

Read more

Resistance Training is Important

Read more

Benefits of Sport Specific Rehabilitation

Read more

Benefits of Training with a Strength Coach

Read more

5 Tips for Preventing Wrestling Injuries

Read more

Non-Surgical Injury Treatment Options for Athletes

Read more

Sign up to our Newsletter

Get appointment updates, practical and actionable health + fitness tips, blog news, and True Sports announcements delivered straight to your inbox. No spam.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.