What are those bruises on Michael Phelps shoulders…Cupping Therapy!
So you have been enjoying watching Michael Phelps create history at the Rio Olympic games.. But what is with those crazy circular bruises over his back and shoulders, The answer is simple, Cupping Therapy. And his chiropractor Kevin Rindal is responsible for the bruises!
What is Cupping Therapy?
Cupping therapy is an an old chinese technique. A therapist applies suction cups to your body, a pump is then used to create a vacuum. The vacuum causes the skin to be drawn into the cup.
This process is thought to draw blood into the tissue, along with stretching and contraction of the muscles. This increase in blood flow to the tissues is thought to, speed up the healing process, reducing muscle soreness and increasing recovery time.
Does It Work?
Ask the chinese therapist and they would say yes, and by the look of Michael Phelps shoulders so would he. Scientist’s however, are yet to conclusively prove any know effect. This does not necessarily mean that they don’t have an effect.
For more information about cupping therapy read this article http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/08/what-are-the-purple-dots-on-michael-phelps-cupping-has-an-olympic-moment/
Thanks
Fluid Chiropractic