Watching the Olympics? Wondering what all those red circles are about? It's Cupping Therapy!

Watching the Olympics? What is Cupping Therapy?

Have you been watching the Olympics and noticing deep red circles all over athletes backs and shoulders? What IS that? The odd-looking marks are from an ancient Chinese massage therapy technique called myofascial decompression, or cupping. Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which cups are placed on the skin to create suction. The cups can be made of a variety of materials, including:

• Glass
• Bamboo
• Earthenware

This is how the therapy works. First, a suction cup-like tool is used to apply negative pressure or vacuum to an area of a person's body where there is underlying sore tissue. Then the patient may be asked to move into a position that stretches out those sore spots and the cups are applied. Finally, the cups stay in place for about five to 10 minutes.

Cupping has many applications. It can be used as a relaxation and part of a massage technique. Or it can be used in a therapeutic approach where it stretches the tissue out to create a reduction in stiffness, inflammation and even healing. What you've been seeing with the Olympic athletes are the after-effects of the red marks that remain a day or two after the cupping. The athletes are probably using the cupping to either warm up the muscles before an event or to release tension afterwards.

Cupping therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians were using cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C. So while this looks like a new therapy, it is actually an ancient practice.

While temporary discomfort is normal in cupping, most patients feel immediate relief and can even feel looser with increased ranges of motion. Supporters of cupping therapy believe the suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow to promote the healing of a broad range of medical ailments. So there is nothing to worry about - those are not bruises or tattoos. It's just cupping!

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