Cupping At The Olympics: Is It A Fad?
Is the practice of cupping beneficial or does it just give a placebo effect?
Olympic athletes this year are carrying circularly shaped bruises on their skin that make them look like they recently fought off a giant octopus.
Michael Phelps and a host of gymnasts are walking around covered in bruises from a treatment for sore and injured muscles that uses suction to reverse-massage muscle tissue in need of care.
The technical term for the treatment is cupping: a sports medicine fad with ancient roots. A cup is applied, and suction pulls the skin away from the body.
The New York Times reports that, as with many health fads, some people swear by it while science has iffy proof of benefits. Maybe athletes are recovering faster. Maybe it’s a placebo effect.
But it’s certainly a head turner for spectators and other athletes alike, and any psychological advantage you get can be worth it.