Dynamic Cupping Therapy—clinically referred to as Myofascial Decompression (MFD)—is a skilled, evidence-informed manual therapy technique used by Doctors of Physical Therapy to decompress fascial layers, improve circulation, and restore normal tissue glide.

Unlike traditional static cupping, Dynamic Cupping combines movement with decompression — allowing your therapist to assess and treat restrictions that only appear during motion.
It’s not just suction; it’s movement-based, assessment-driven, and clinically purposeful.

How It Works

Cup Placement & Decompression:
The therapist applies medical-grade cups (manual or electric) along targeted fascial lines or regions of restriction.
Gentle, adjustable suction lifts the skin and underlying tissue, creating negative pressure that enhances blood flow, lymphatic exchange, and fascial glide.

Combined Active & Passive Range of Motion (A/PROM):
While the cups remain applied, the therapist guides the joint through both passive (therapist-controlled) and active (patient-controlled) movement arcs.
This blended approach allows the clinician to:

Observe tissue glide, direction of pull, and depth of restriction.
Differentiate between fascial adhesion, joint stiffness, and neural tension.Stimulate neuromuscular re-education as the body learns to move freely within decompressed tissues.

Combining active and passive motion under decompression provides a three-dimensional picture of how tissues behave both with and without muscle engagement, helping the DPT pinpoint exactly where mechanical restrictions limit full range.

Functional Reintegration:
Once improved glide or range is achieved, it’s immediately reinforced with manual therapy or corrective exercise.
This ensures the new motion is neurologically integrated and functionally retained — meaning the freedom gained on the table translates directly to real-life movement (e.g., running, reaching, lifting).

Dynamic Cupping serves as a bridge between soft tissue work and movement retraining.
It merges decompression with active engagement to address not just stiffness, but the functional control of motion.

Therapeutic objectives include:
✅ Identifying hidden fascial restrictions not detectable through palpation alone
✅ Differentiating soft tissue vs. joint contribution to limited range
✅ Improving lymphatic drainage and circulatory exchange
✅ Re-educating neuromuscular control through movement in newly freed tissue
✅ Enhancing proprioception and movement awareness

When It’s Used:
Shoulder impingement, scapular dyskinesia, or postural imbalance

Lumbar and thoracic stiffness or poor segmental control
Hamstring or calf tightness and post-activity soreness

Post-surgical scar adhesion (once medically cleared)

Fascial restriction from repetitive strain (e.g., runners, throwers, desk workers)
A general “stuck” or tight feeling during movement

Benefits
✅ Restores normal glide between skin, fascia, and muscle layers
✅ Reduces myofascial tension and stiffness
✅ Enhances active range of motion and movement fluidity
✅ Improves local circulation and lymphatic flow
✅ Decreases pain and enhances tissue recovery
✅ Complements manual therapy, dry needling, and corrective exercise
At The Recovery Room, cupping is never cosmetic or relaxation-based — it is a strategic clinical adjunct to restore motion, not a spa service.
Each treatment is guided by your VALD movement profile, manual palpation findings, and functional range assessments, ensuring precision in both application and outcome.

Dynamic Cupping bridges the gap between passive decompression and active retraining, ensuring that new motion is owned, stable, and ready for performance.

A targeted, minimally invasive technique performed by certified Doctors of Physical Therapy trained through Integrative Dry Needling (IDN).
Dry needling uses a fine filament needle to stimulate dysfunctional motor points, reduce neuromuscular tension, and normalize muscle firing patterns.

How It Works:
The needle is inserted into the dysfunctional muscle or trigger zone, eliciting a local twitch response that resets the neuromuscular system.
Following needling, movement-based retraining or exercise is performed to “lock in” the improved mobility and motor control.

Clinical Benefits:
✅ Deactivates trigger points causing pain or limited range
✅ Restores optimal motor control and muscle length-tension relationship
✅ Reduces protective muscle guarding and neural irritation
✅ Enhances the effectiveness of manual therapy and exercise

Manual Physical Therapy is a cornerstone of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) practice, integrating advanced palpation, movement assessment, and precision joint and soft tissue techniques.

Performed only by licensed PTs and DPTs, manual therapy includes:

Joint Mobilizations: Low-velocity, graded movements to restore arthrokinematic motion.

Soft Tissue Mobilization & Myofascial Release: Hands-on tissue manipulation to improve circulation and muscle glide.

Passive Range Techniques: Movement through pain-free arcs to retrain joint receptors and reduce stiffness.

Clinical Positioning:
Manual therapy is recognized by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) and supported by the APTA Orthopedic Section as a skilled intervention requiring advanced clinical reasoning, not interchangeable with massage or general bodywork.

Benefits:
✅ Improves joint range of motion and mobility
✅ Decreases pain and muscle guarding
✅ Enhances fluid exchange, circulation, and tissue repair
✅ Prepares the body for strengthening and neuromuscular retraining $100/hr

The foundation of The Recovery Room’s performance model — captures force, symmetry, and mobility metrics via VALD HumanTrak and ForceDecks. Stop guessing, start measuring. Movement & Performance Assessment (VALD-Based Objective Testing)

What it is:
A comprehensive one-on-one movement evaluation using VALD performance technology — a suite of objective assessment tools (force, power, balance, strength, speed, asymmetry metrics). These systems scientifically quantify your baseline abilities and movement patterns.
VALD Performance

How it works:
• Standardized tests measure force production, symmetry, jump quality, rate of force development, balance, range of motion, and more.
• Results are compiled into reports you can use to track progress across sessions, helping clinicians tailor interventions.
VALD Performance
Benefits:
• Removes guesswork — you see real data, not just subjective feedback.
• Identifies asymmetries or weaknesses that may contribute to pain or injury risk.
• Informs precise exercise prescription and progression plans.
• Benchmarks improvement over time with repeatable metrics.
• Helps guide return-to-sport or workload changes safely. Clinical Description:
A complete, objective evaluation using VALD Performance Technology, the gold standard in sports science for measuring strength, asymmetry, and readiness.
VALD systems are used by professional sports teams, military organizations, and physical therapy clinics worldwide.

Purpose:
To replace guesswork with measurable data. The system quantifies key performance and rehab metrics such as:

Lower- and upper-body force symmetry
Jump, landing, and power analysis
Grip, trunk, and rotational strength
Rate of force development and balance control

Benefits:
✅ Provides a baseline for rehabilitation or performance planning
✅ Quantifies asymmetry (≥15% imbalance = increased injury risk)
✅ Guides exercise prescription with data-backed precision
✅ Tracks measurable progress and readiness for return-to-sport