If you watched the Olympics or even a red carpet event recently, you might be wondering why some athletes and celebrities are donning giant reddish-purple bruises on their backs.
Those bruises are side effects of a type of sports therapy called “cupping.” To figure out what cupping therapy really does, we spoke to two sports medicine doctors about the science behind the practice.
Cupping therapy can alleviate muscle pain and aid in sports recovery. It’s generally safe for everyone, but you might not need it; before booking an appointment, talk to a health professional about whether this type of therapy will be beneficial for your specific needs. It’s also important to remember that cupping therapy results vary from person to person, so be open to other treatment options if cupping doesn’t work for you.
