Cupping may be an ancient muscle recovery method, but it seemed to explode onto the national consciousness around the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics, when swimmers started showing up to the pool looking weirdly…bruised. Those alien purple dots scattered on the backs of Michael Phelps—and, more recently, Washington Nationals player Bryce Harper—are intriguing and, to some, impressive.
This is called cupping. Bryce Harper bringing it to another level. Photo courtesy of @Bharper3407 pic.twitter.com/iCI1WURKpr — Scott Abraham (@ScottABC7) January 25, 2018
But while there is some evidence to suggest that cupping can benefit the average non-professional athlete, is there science to suggest this modality can speed recovery? Not really, according to a new systematic review published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Researchers analyzed 11 clinical trials, including 500 participants, to explore cupping’s efficacy and safety. Overall, the researchers found the studies and reports had a high amount of bias in their trial designs. So, while some illustrated benefits related to pain relief, there were no concrete recommendations or conclusions claiming cupping is good or bad for sports performance. “Cupping therapy is a classic example in which research lags behind clinical practice,” co-study author Romy Lauche said in a press release. “We are confident that this review will point out the need for and encourage further high-quality research of cupping, a therapy which has been around for millennia.”
Thanks @arschmitty for my cupping today!!! #mpswim #mp 📷 @chasekalisz A post shared by Michael Phelps (@m_phelps00) on Sep 10, 2015 at 12:29pm PDT
And to be fair, these professional athletes are competing at such a high level that they’re far more likely to experiment with less common recovery methods. For regular folks? Cupping has been shown to help loosen chest congestion, relieve sore muscles, and even help with digestion, Dr. Anne Mok, D.A.O.M. (doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine) told Men’s Fitness in an earlier interview. Want to boost recovery post-workout? Try these other methods as well:
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
The Best Mindfulness Apps for 2023, According to Experts
Work on That Core With The Vinsguir Ab Roller in Your Home
Fuel Up For Your Workouts With Core Power Protein Shakes
Best Testosterone Booster: Top 5 Supplements For Men of 2023
Best Green Powders of 2023 to Boost Your Health
Fortify Your Body With The Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
Cupping may be an ancient muscle recovery method, but it seemed to explode onto the national consciousness around the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics, when swimmers started showing up to the pool looking weirdly…bruised.
Those alien purple dots scattered on the backs of Michael Phelps—and, more recently, Washington Nationals player Bryce Harper—are intriguing and, to some, impressive.
This is called cupping. Bryce Harper bringing it to another level.
Photo courtesy of @Bharper3407 pic.twitter.com/iCI1WURKpr
— Scott Abraham (@ScottABC7) January 25, 2018
But while there is some evidence to suggest that cupping can benefit the average non-professional athlete, is there science to suggest this modality can speed recovery? Not really, according to a new systematic review published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Researchers analyzed 11 clinical trials, including 500 participants, to explore cupping’s efficacy and safety.
Overall, the researchers found the studies and reports had a high amount of bias in their trial designs. So, while some illustrated benefits related to pain relief, there were no concrete recommendations or conclusions claiming cupping is good or bad for sports performance.
“Cupping therapy is a classic example in which research lags behind clinical practice,” co-study author Romy Lauche said in a press release. “We are confident that this review will point out the need for and encourage further high-quality research of cupping, a therapy which has been around for millennia.”
Thanks @arschmitty for my cupping today!!! #mpswim #mp 📷 @chasekalisz A post shared by Michael Phelps (@m_phelps00) on Sep 10, 2015 at 12:29pm PDT
Thanks @arschmitty for my cupping today!!! #mpswim #mp 📷 @chasekalisz
A post shared by Michael Phelps (@m_phelps00) on Sep 10, 2015 at 12:29pm PDT
And to be fair, these professional athletes are competing at such a high level that they’re far more likely to experiment with less common recovery methods. For regular folks? Cupping has been shown to help loosen chest congestion, relieve sore muscles, and even help with digestion, Dr. Anne Mok, D.A.O.M. (doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine) told Men’s Fitness in an earlier interview.
Want to boost recovery post-workout? Try these other methods as well:
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
The Best Mindfulness Apps for 2023, According to Experts
Work on That Core With The Vinsguir Ab Roller in Your Home
Fuel Up For Your Workouts With Core Power Protein Shakes
Best Testosterone Booster: Top 5 Supplements For Men of 2023
Best Green Powders of 2023 to Boost Your Health
Fortify Your Body With The Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
The Best Mindfulness Apps for 2023, According to Experts
Work on That Core With The Vinsguir Ab Roller in Your Home
Fuel Up For Your Workouts With Core Power Protein Shakes
Best Testosterone Booster: Top 5 Supplements For Men of 2023
Best Green Powders of 2023 to Boost Your Health
Fortify Your Body With The Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
The Best Mindfulness Apps for 2023, According to Experts
Work on That Core With The Vinsguir Ab Roller in Your Home
Fuel Up For Your Workouts With Core Power Protein Shakes
Best Testosterone Booster: Top 5 Supplements For Men of 2023
Best Green Powders of 2023 to Boost Your Health
Fortify Your Body With The Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
