How Did Traditional Chinese Cupping Help Michael Phelps Win His Gold Medals?

How Did Traditional Chinese Cupping Aid Michael Phelps Win His Gold Medals

Cupping has been holding a golden moment recently, primarily gratitude to Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, who showcased cupping spots on his shoulders and back during the 2016 Olympics. Though cupping might be infrequent in the United States, it has a thriving history of thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. But what exactly is cupping, and how did it aid Phelps perform at his peak? Let's probe.

What is Cupping?

Cupping is an alternative therapy employed to cure muscles and is available in distinct forms. Most methods fall under dry cupping, but there is also wet cupping—a type that involves bloodletting or medicinal bleeding. For those aspiring to wet cupping in NYC, the classic techniques are blended with trendy expertise, delivering a remarkable and effective experience.

Dry cupping, also named bloodless cupping, is the fundamental cupping technique. In conventional cupping, glass cups are warmed from the inside and placed on the skin. As the air inside the cup chills, a vacuum is formed, forcing the skin to be sucked upward. The suction impact aids in stretching tense muscles and the connective tissue around them, promoting relaxation. The suction also expands blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the treated area. The more blood outpours a spot receives, the faster it heals.

The cups generally stay in place for 5-15 minutes. Due to the suction, blood vessels can rupture, leaving behind circular purple marks once the cups are removed. Nowadays, some therapists use modern devices, relying on mechanical pumps to create suction rather than relying on heat.

The Effect on Phelps

When Phelps took to the water during the Olympics, many spectators were curious about the eye-catching purple marks on his upper body. In an interview pursuing the 4x100-meter relay, Phelps proclaimed that he had asked for cupping treatment the day before because he was feeling pain. He had been utilizing this treatment for some time, even conveying a photograph of himself receiving cupping on Instagram in 2015.

Especially for swimmers, Olympic participation is quite demanding. Phelps and other athletes must swim in competitive races on subsequent days, occasionally with rare hours in between. Phelps contests in the 100-meter butterfly semifinal, for instance, less than an hour after concluding the 200-meter Individual Medley final during the 2016 Olympics. Among these were his rigid training schedules, which included speed drills, daily swimming workouts spanning up to six hours, and weight-lifting sessions four to five days a week. Given his workload, it makes sense that he sought powerful painkillers.

By improving blood circulation, cupping helped repair Phelps’ muscle fibers after tough workouts. It also helped him heal and recover quicker after races hence perform at his peak despite the packed Olympic schedules. Although his personal trainer, Keenan Robinson, downplayed the therapy by saying that it was just another recovery modality, and there was nothing special about it, its contribution to Phelps’ legendary career cannot be overlooked given how committed the great Olympian is to using it.

Cupping's Impact Beyond Phelps

Michael Phelps wasn't the sole athlete who was aided by cupping treatment. Other athletes, such as swimmer Pavel Sankovich and gymnasts Alex Naddour and Chris Brooks, have also adopted this conventional therapy. Naddour, for example, remarked that cupping was more profitable than anything else he had expended money on.

Although there is still some controversy among medical authorities concerning the significance of cupping, high-profile athletes continue to use it to speed up their recovery. If you don't have a bleeding disorder or aren't taking medication with bleeding as a side effect, cupping might be worth a try for you, too. Whether you opt for traditional dry cupping or wet cupping in NYC, it's a relatively painless process with no significant risks when done correctly.

Interested in Trying Cupping?

If you are interested in undergoing the advantages of cupping treatment, feel free to contact us or schedule an appointment. Whether it's for muscle recovery, pain relief, or curiosity about this ancient practice, we're here to guide you on your journey.