Phelps isn’t the only athlete in Rio relying on the round cups.
Advertisement
Other Olympians, such as US men’s gymnast Alex Naddour, are also using the technique. Some were concerned about Phelps, but others knew the marks were telltale signs of cupping therapy – and even joked that Phelps looked like he was in a fight with an octopus. Former Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin has also previously posted pictures of herself going through a cupping therapy.
Sharp eyed viewers of the Olympic swimming action on Sunday night were quick to go to social media to ask about visible rings on the back of Michael Phelps. She uses cupping as a way to relieve pain for her clients.
“It’s a very weird sensation, there’s the sensation of the skin being drawn up into the cup. It is closely related to traditional Chinese medicine”. And the process is very simple as well: The cups are placed over muscles, and then, using the pump, you create an area of negative vacuum pressure that draws blood to the surface, breaks capillaries, and forms the ideal purple circle on the skin.
She says cupping is used to relax muscles and treat pain, and for Phelps, speed up muscle recovery before his next race.
According to Budiash, cupping is not safe to do during pregnancy. “We put the cups on Michael and separate out the layers of fascia to allow for better glide between the muscles”.
“For the most part people love cupping”, Clark said. Gonna leave a mark!
But don’t misunderstand: Coughlin takes her cupping sessions seriously and won’t let anything like a silly fire drill stand in the way of treatment.
United States gymnast Alex Naddour, 25, and Belarusian swimmer Pavel Sankovich are also fans of the procedure. It last only a few minutes and can result in golf ball-sized bruises. Online. “Shocked my system with a vegan diet, special Pu-erh tea from China, and cupping since Friday!” she wrote, and – just to clear up any possible confusion -she added, “this has NOTHING to do with weight!”
It’s important to note, though, that – like most Eastern medical practices – cupping therapy has its detractors.
What are the benefits of cupping?
Rest assured that – botched procedures aside – the treatment is not known to cause permanent harm. “According to them, vacuum-based massage improves circulation and overall well being, suggesting that muscle fix happens faster after physical exertion”.
Want more celebrity, entertainment and lifestyle news?
Advertisement
Follow Mallory Sofastaii on Twitter@MalloryABC2 and on Facebook@mallorysofastaii.
