So what are those round circles on some of the Olympic athletes bodies?

Robb Seahorn PT CSCS AIB-CCON, ITPT

Robb Seahorn PT CSCS AIB-CCON, ITPT
Provides Outpatient Physical Therapy, Injury Prevention Programs, Concussion Testing, and Performance Enhancement Treatments

The round circles you saw on some of the Olympic athletes, like Michael Phelps shoulders, are from a treatment called cupping. The treatment is performed using various sized suction cups creating a vacuum to the underlying tissue.

Cupping therapy is a significant component of complementary and alternative medicine throughout the world and is popular in many countries, especially in China, Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

So how does it work and what does it do?

It is not well studied in current medical literature but the cupping therapy is hypothesized to adjust skin blood flow,change biomechanical properties of the skin, improved pressure pain thresholds in those areas, increased red blood cells and possible immune function improvement. There is not a lot of definitive research at this time.

In rehabilitation we have used this treatment for several years to improve tissue mobility and reduce scar tissue adhesion. Often the result of surgery or even injury is adhesion of the underlying tissues. The connective tissue and even muscle can get stuck together, thus limiting range of motion and mobility.

Athletes often use this treatment to improve tissue flexibility and blood flow to an area assisting in performance enhancement.

So how did I hear about it?

Several years ago, I had a patient that went to Duke Medical Center to have a complex ankle surgery. He began his rehabilitation there and was introduced to the treatment by his physician. When he came back, we researched it and began to use this technique around scar followed by stretching. It significantly improved his mobility. So in his case we used the cupping around the tissue moving the cup around the tissue then having him passively and actively move.

In the cases with the circle marks on the athletes, the cupping leads to bruising and is the result of the cups being left in place for a longer period of time.

This treatment is not for everyone. People with thin skin, open wound, hypersensitivity and skin conditions, and other serious medical conditions should consider other treatment options.

For more information contact Robb Seahorn PT CSCS.