I've been using these Chinese vacuum cups for about three months now and I like them a lot. They seem to really help loosen up the trigger points and muscle adhesions. My movement has improved quite a bit.

What works well for me is, putting the cup, or cups on, and then moving around. It's kind of an active release type of thing. It's working well for me. I've also seen cupping referred to as, "Myofascial decompression."

The only downside I see to these is, the purple marks they leave on your skin, but they go away in a few days so it's no big deal.

This is the set I bought. So far, it's holding up well. Oops. I meant to put this in the trigger point sticky.

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-C...g+therapy+sets

Another good thing that I found to work on trigger points is a spikey ball. The set I have came with a larger, and softer ball, that actually looks more like a peanut. That one's okay, but the one I really like is a smaller 2 inch ball that is really hard. Those little spikes on the ball really dig into your muscles. It's almost like a meat tenderizer.

Not only do the little spikes dig into the muscles well, but they also help hold the ball in place. That's one problem I've had with with other kinds of balls. If you get on a tight spot, the ball squirts out of there. This one doesn't do that. It makes it much easier to use.

Here's what they look like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=957tflebvxM

This video shows some good tools for myofascial release. I have everything but the medicine ball. Using these can be a bit painful but they get results.
http://www.functionalpatterns.com/th...fective-video/

Jomar, thanks so much for your reply. If I may ask how bad was your TOS on a scale of 1-10. Can you describe your symptoms please?


My theory is that my TOS was caused by poor posture and provoked by a severe accident that took away all the marginal buffer I may have had within to avoid the compression.
I fell off a bike into my face. And my life became a living mess thereafter.

I got headaches from a combination of myocardial therapy and TENS, I am thinking of dropping the latter as I think it may be the cause. I hope it is so that I can continue with the myo therapy. TENs has been useless for me in the past but there is a miracle machine called Interex which is more intense which worked wonders on my TOS. Unfortunately I can't use it everyday or I would have.

this link goes to a thread with my symptoms listed in post #3-
Our Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome

Taping & trigger points-
Taping for Trigger Points - The Trapezius – Niel Asher Healthcare


Quick Self Help – Niel Asher Healthcare


posture connection -
Overcoming Chronic Neck Pain: Postural Causes and A Unique Exercise Fix