A number of Olympians – including the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, Michael Phelps – have been photographed with mysterious large red circles on their skin.
What are they and why is everyone suddenly going dotty over them?
Here ends the anticipations. These red dots are the result of a practice known as “cupping”; an ancient therapy where heated cups are placed on the skin, reported BBC News.
The technique, which is a form of acupuncture, is done by lighting flammable liquid in a glass cup.
Once the flame goes out, the drop in temperature creates suction which sticks the cups to the body.
The suction pulls the skin away from the body and promotes blood flow – and leaves those red spots, which typically last for three or four days.
According to the athletes, they are using it to ease aches and pains and to help with recovery from the physical toil of constant training and competing.
There are plenty of other recovery techniques competitors use – including sports massage, sauna, ice baths and compression garments – but US gymnast Alex Naddour told USA Today that cupping was “better than any money I’ve spent on anything else”.
“That’s been the secret that I have had through this year that keeps me healthy,” Naddour told the paper, adding that it had saved him from “a lot of pain”.
His team captain Chris Brooks added that many on the squad had started “do-it-yourself” cupping, with cups that can be suctioned with a pump rather than with a flame.
“You’re like, ‘OK, I’m sore here,'” said Brooks. “Throw a cup on, and your roommate will help you or you can do it yourself.”
Sourced from BBC News, Featured image courtesy: www.bbc.co.uk
