Rose, who had more than 200 Power Balance bracelets, swore by them. “It doesn’t look like it feels awesome, but I feel relief”, Glassmeyer said.
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An Ancient eastern technique is leaving its mark on Olympic athletes. The two athletes sported big red dots on their skin and social media exploded with viewers wondering what those remarkably large, round hickeys are.
So how does it work?
Some people say they do experience a release in muscle tension afterwards, but there is little research documenting whether cupping really works or not, according to the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic.
Instead of compressing, as is done in a traditional massage, the suction of the cups lift the muscles up to four inches from the body, Mouser said. “Cupping therapy has widened significantly though in the last few years and newer techniques are being used for conditions and diseases away from sports therapy such as migraines and eczema”.
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps’s skin is strewn with livid polka dots, and his compatriot, the gymnast Alex Naddour is also sporting circular welts.
Though it is gaining popularity, USA TODAY reported that some are skeptical of its benefit.
Hamilton said cupping is “no such thing”.
Athletes who use cupping therapy don’t seem to mind if the benefits are physical or merely psychological, because either way they believe it helps improve their performance. Authors of the review noted, however, that the studies weren’t carefully done, so their results weren’t very valuable. Cupping therapy involves heating the air inside a glass cup, which removes some of the air from it.
Anoka Massage and Pain Therapy says once the cups are used, they are cleaned to hospital standards.
Vic Black, former pitcher for the New York Mets baseball team, noted, “The placebo effect is a lot more powerful than people realize”. “By the second day, I get a phone call saying they feel wonderful”, she said.
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Phelps even included the process, which can be painful, in a commercial he did for Under Armour on the rigorous training he puts his body through to get ready to compete.
