If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do. -Michael Phelps
The bruises - numerous, circular, and not small at all - seen on Michael Phelps’s shoulders on Sunday as he won his first Rio Gold Medal (and 19th Gold Medal total) were a bit of an enigma for some - swimming isn’t really thought of as a contact sport. But the bruises weren’t injuries, nor were they evidence of a problem; actually, the opposite. As it turns out, the spots are the result of an alternative healing practice called cupping therapy, which Phelps and other Olympic athletes swear by. This year at the Olympics, many athletes have sported the purplish circles, leading fans to wonder - what is cupping therapy, and does it really work? We set out to find out.
What is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy is an ancient practice dating back thousands of years and originating in ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. Traditionally, a healer would ignite something flammable (these days it’s often a cotton ball soaked in alcohol) in the cup; as the fire goes out, the cup is placed on the skin in the targeted area. The cup forms a seal with the skin and the cooling of the air within the cup causes the skin to contract...or, in other words, the skin is sucked up a little bit into the cup. Cups are left on for approximately 3 minutes. These days, along with more traditional methods, there are also cups attached to a pump that allow for suction without having to light a fire. This small amount of time during which the skin is suctioned is enough for the capillaries to rupture, creating the easily seen purple spots. The spots (which are technically bruises) don’t hurt, and the actual cupping doesn’t seem to hurt either, according to those who have experienced it. And for some, the therapy can help with soreness and pain, though there aren’t scientific studies that prove its effectiveness.
Why Is It So Hard to Prove?
Scientific studies, whether it comes to health or scientific principles, are generally held to pretty high standards for there to be ‘proof’ of anything. In general, studies are randomized control trials, which means there is a test treatment, there is a control treatment (which mimics the treatment but has no effect, like taking a sugar pill), and which treatment each participant gets is randomized and blind (they don’t know which they’re getting so as to not skew the results). Of course when it comes to cupping therapy, there’s an obvious problem - how do you create a control that mimics cupping (so that the participant can’t tell if they’re getting the cupping therapy or the treatment) without it having a similar effect?
So far, you don’t, or at least not really. Some studies have attempted to compare cupping therapies with other types of therapy, but the obvious flaw is that the participants know they’re getting the cupping therapy. Even the knowledge that they’re receiving some sort of therapy is enough to help people feel better, called the 'placebo effect'. There’s no way of knowing if it’s the cupping or the knowledge that they’re getting the cupping that actually works.
For some, it doesn’t matter whether it’s the therapy itself or the placebo effect from having the therapy. As a therapy with fairly minor risks, proponents say if it works for you, go for it.
Some Beliefs About Cupping Therapy
Beliefs about cupping therapy vary widely; while some swear by it, some actually think it could be dangerous. Some of the most widely held beliefs about cupping therapy include:
- - Cupping therapy stimulates the body’s natural energy, or qi
- - Cupping therapy draws blood to the affected area, helping to decrease muscle soreness; it can also help with chronic pain
- - Cupping therapy pulls the skin a tiny bit away from the muscle, allowing the muscle to heal
- - Cupping therapy is akin to massage therapy
- - Cupping therapy doesn’t do anything except cause people to put trust in less-than-scientific fads; any effects are just placebo effects
Does It Really Work?
While cupping therapy won’t give you talent in the water like Phelps, the jury’s still out on whether (scientifically) the therapy can help you deal with pain and muscle soreness. While some athletes, like Phelps, swear by it, others try it and move on to other forms of therapy as a part of their training. Though cupping should be avoided by anyone with blood clotting issues and should only ever be undertaken after speaking with a licensed trainer or medical professional, there doesn’t seem to be any harm in giving it a try once or twice if you’re interested. Even if it is the placebo effect, if Michael Phelps swears by it, there just might be something to it...and especially right now, we wouldn’t dream of telling him otherwise.
