Monday, August 8, 2016

Why Michael Phelps and other Olympians have big red circles all over their skin


Michael Phelps will swim his first event of the Rio Olympics on Sunday night, and he'll do it with noticeable red circle marks splayed all across his back.
If you've watched any of the Olympics so far, you've most likely seen similar spots on other athletes, including some American male gymnasts. The marks are the result of cupping therapy, a healing technique that is particularly en vogue among Olympians.

"Basically, cupping involves a cup attached to a pump. Athletes put the cup on their skin and create suction with the pump. Some say the technique increases blood flow and helps a person's sore muscles heal."
The spots are bruises from the cups, and they can apparently last up to two or three weeks. Here's American swimmer Natalie Coughlin getting the treatment:

Coughlin's bruises also seem to be much worse, though that is most likely from right after the treatment:

Here's another angle of Phelps' back, from Sunday night:
Michael Phelps Cupping Back
Phelps added cupping to his recovery routine leading up to Rio. The treatment is featured in a pre-Olympics commercial from Under Armour.
It certainly looks painful. But if it makes your muscles feel better, and gets you to the Olympics, so what?
Some studies have questioned whether or not there are truly benefits to cupping though. Here's more about how cupping therapy works.

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