This might be old news here already beaten to death, but search doesn’t show anything.
Any thoughts about ‘cupping’ as a recovery therapy? I’m not interested, I think my frail skin would just tear, but apparently it’s a big thing now, because, you know, Phelps does it.
Thats what happens when you fall asleep on your 19 gold medals
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Some dude name Macca was doing it in 2009.
I think he did okay at Kona.
I got talked into trying this back in the early 90’s. DId it twice, had double the welts that Phelps showed, and did not feel one bit of difference. It was explained to me that it brings dormant blood to the surface, then it gets circulated back into the system.
When I actually though about what they were claiming, it sounded silly, what the hell is dormant blood, and how does bruising myself all over help promote healing? Stopped after two treatments, right after the hot ear wax treatments.
Still waiting for a logical explanation of what exactly this does other than a placebo.
An acquaintance of mine moved to China to study medicine around 10 years ago. I remember seeing a facebook post of his on cupping around then. Interesting that it’s making its way over here.
I wonder if it is really any different in theory then other recovery therapies that promote blood flow? I guess it’s more comfortable then plunging yourself in to an ice bath.
I can see this happening. Future television advertisements for cupping! For $19.99, you can buy your own At Home Cupping Kit! As seen in the Olympics on Michael Phelps! Call in the next 20 minutes and you can get 2 cupping kits for $19.99!
Back hurting? Cup it! Legs hurt? Cup it! All of your pain will go away! Just cup it!
I got talked into trying this back in the early 90’s. DId it twice, had double the welts that Phelps showed, and did not feel one bit of difference. It was explained to me that it brings dormant blood to the surface, then it gets circulated back into the system.
When I actually though about what they were claiming, it sounded silly, what the hell is dormant blood, and how does bruising myself all over help promote healing? Stopped after two treatments, right after the hot ear wax treatments.
Still waiting for a logical explanation of what exactly this does other than a placebo.
Knew a guy who broke his elbow…once “healed”, he only had about 70% of his movement back. Not amount of PT, rehab, etc helped.
While in Taiwan, he went to an eastern med doc. Doc looks at the elbow and says “bad blood.” He then does a version of cupping over one part of his arm, leaves it there for a few moments and then uses a needle to rapidly pierce his skin. “Cups” again and draws out the thickest, darkest blood this guy had ever seen…Looked black.
He instantly had 95% of his mobility back in his elbow.
Yeah anecdotal, etc, but I’m guessing this would be an example of “dormant blood”.
Ya, but that is an actual injury, of course there is pooling with certain types of trauma.These guys are completely healthy with no injuries, and just getting random blood pulled from their backs mostly, which is where they did it to me.Only my back looked like a bag of baseballs got hurled at it.
Ya, but that is an actual injury, of course there is pooling with certain types of trauma.These guys are completely healthy with no injuries, and just getting random blood pulled from their backs mostly, which is where they did it to me.Only my back looked like a bag of baseballs got hurled at it.
Yeah, I dunno…not really defending the idea of cupping, just wanted to give an example of what “dormant blood” could be.
Could an argument be made that the amount of exertion that elite athletes endur creates “micro injuries” where blood may pool in muscles? FIIK…
Maybe leeches will make a comeback?
That scene still makes me cringe.
Maybe leeches will make a comeback?
That scene still makes me cringe.
Did they ever leave? I thought they’re still be used and shown effective for some wound healing and especially helping keeping blood flow going to reattached fingers and such.
I was kinda hoping that was swimming’s version of a kom jersey.
I actually own a cupping set. I have used it for a month. I don’t really see any benefit to cupping to be honest.
How does doing this aid in recovery?
Wasn’t just Phelps. Several of the gymnasts on the US men’s team had them too.
Ya, but that is an actual injury, of course there is pooling with certain types of trauma.These guys are completely healthy with no injuries, and just getting random blood pulled from their backs mostly, which is where they did it to me.Only my back looked like a bag of baseballs got hurled at it.
Yeah, I dunno…not really defending the idea of cupping, just wanted to give an example of what “dormant blood” could be.
Could an argument be made that the amount of exertion that elite athletes endur creates “micro injuries” where blood may pool in muscles? FIIK…
I would not be entirely dismissive of its impact or not. Here in the west there is typically a lot of skepticism of eastern medical practices, mainly because it is not based on the western scientific method. Eastern medical practices are often based on 3000 years of trial and error and collecting statistical trends on what appears to work or not. After 3000 years in many cases they have converged on stuff that works. Here in the west, we have 300 years of trial and error overlaid on top of the scientific method. We still have trial and error (thus the need for clinical trials for pharma), so we’re actually not that much better than in the East, only thing is we get a 2700 year head start by applying a better scientific starting point. But we still have trial and error and the need to collect stats around our science to converge on stuff that may or may not work.
Cupping is doing some of the same stuff as massage but instead of applying positive pressure to body parts (which can then stimulate blood flow), they are just applying “negative pressure” (in other words suction). If you think about it purely from a mechanical angle, it has the potential to work positively when you have some issues…add in the blood flow element and its hard to dismiss it totally.
I have tried the therapy ONCE. I don’t really know if I am in a position to comment on its effectiveness, but I will try a few more rounds over the next few months to give it a whirl. I am fighting with some nerve healing so anything that stimulates blood flow in the regions in question that does not do harm is worth a try for now. At worst I lost a bit of time.
Dev
Kids have been getting hickeys for years. I never knew it was a form of therapy.
But will the cups be made of copper?
Love the ads that show some dude putting on bowling shoes over his Tommy Copper “performance socks”. Cmon. Is that what it’s come to?
Ya, but that is an actual injury, of course there is pooling with certain types of trauma.These guys are completely healthy with no injuries, and just getting random blood pulled from their backs mostly, which is where they did it to me.Only my back looked like a bag of baseballs got hurled at it.
Yeah, I dunno…not really defending the idea of cupping, just wanted to give an example of what “dormant blood” could be.
Could an argument be made that the amount of exertion that elite athletes endur creates “micro injuries” where blood may pool in muscles? FIIK…
I would not be entirely dismissive of its impact or not. Here in the west there is typically a lot of skepticism of eastern medical practices, mainly because it is not based on the western scientific method. Eastern medical practices are often based on 3000 years of trial and error and collecting statistical trends on what appears to work or not. After 3000 years in many cases they have converged on stuff that works. Here in the west, we have 300 years of trial and error overlaid on top of the scientific method. We still have trial and error (thus the need for clinical trials for pharma), so we’re actually not that much better than in the East, only thing is we get a 2700 year head start by applying a better scientific starting point. But we still have trial and error and the need to collect stats around our science to converge on stuff that may or may not work.
Cupping is doing some of the same stuff as massage but instead of applying positive pressure to body parts (which can then stimulate blood flow), they are just applying “negative pressure” (in other words suction). If you think about it purely from a mechanical angle, it has the potential to work positively when you have some issues…add in the blood flow element and its hard to dismiss it totally.
I have tried the therapy ONCE. I don’t really know if I am in a position to comment on its effectiveness, but I will try a few more rounds over the next few months to give it a whirl. I am fighting with some nerve healing so anything that stimulates blood flow in the regions in question that does not do harm is worth a try for now. At worst I lost a bit of time.
Dev
“Appeal to antiquity”. If the treatment is effective it should be demonstrable in appropriately performed research.
If I ever get to Kona, I plan on cupping a few of the frontrunners. I’m might leave a few welts, depending on how hard they resist. Then again, I’ll probably get a few welts back in return, mostly in the cheek/ eye area.