A little over a week ago, during the Olympics, we saw the media explode with reactions about Michael Phelps use of cupping therapy. We saw articles that poked fun at athletes for using all kinds of crazy treatments. Some said that cupping had little research and worked mainly as a placebo while other articles gave horrible images of cupping gone bad, and we saw articles that gave glowing reviews of just how amazing cupping therapy is .
This article will tell you what cupping therapy is and what is used for, what the research says, and why athletes use complementary and alternative medicine.
What Is Cupping Therapy
Cupping is used in many different cultures but is mainly considered to belong to Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves a plastic cup, glass, or bamboo which creates a suction over an area of skin. It is thought to drain excess fluids and toxins, loosen adhesions and lift connective tissue, bring blood flow to stagnant skin and muscles, and to stimulate the peripheral nervous system. Cupping therapy is used to treat a wide variety of ailments such as:
- Herpes zoster
- Acne
- Facial paralysis
- Cervical spondylosis
- Blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia
- Rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia
- Fertility and gynecological disorders
- Skin problems such as eczema and acne
- High blood pressure
- Migraines
- Anxiety and depression
- Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma
- Varicose veins
Dry Cupping
Dry cupping involves creating a suction over an acupoint or sensitive area for about three minutes or more. The cups may also be moved over the skin with lubricants.
Wet Cupping
Wet cupping involves making a slight incision in your skin and placing the cups over the incision. When I used to work at Rehabilitation Medicine and Acupuncture with Dr. Xu he did this quite a bit for various skin conditions including shingles. He’d pop the blisters, place the cups over the blisters, and suck out the blood. It was a little intense to see that but many people found relief from the shingles pain.
“He’d pop the blisters, place the cups over the blisters,
and suck out the blood. It was a little intense to see
that but many people found relief from the shingles pain”
Research
It seems generally true that research does not completely support cupping therapy. However, what most research says is that the studies that have been done are mostly poor quality studies but do show some promise for helping with certain conditions, especially pain(1). Researchers give specific types of research that should be done to conclude whether or not cupping is a valuable treatment for many different conditions(1,2).
“Researchers find that many
of the studies done are of low quality
but that they show promise and press that
more research should be done”
This is true for many complementary/ alternative medicine treatments. Researchers find that many of the studies done are of low quality but that they show promise and press that more research should be done. This is exciting and good news. This gives people of each field a framework of conducting better studies so that we can know more specifics about when to use these therapies for what types of conditions and pain.
Research does show that cupping is safe. While there have been some adverse affects, as long as it is done by a qualified professional it is safe.
Why Athletes use Complementary Medicine/ Should you use Cupping?
I have had some ask whether cupping would be good for them. With Michael Phelps winning 20 gold medals it only makes sense that droves of people and aspiring athletes would be interested in this type of therapy. My answer would be that it is a matter of personal preference. Whether it’s acupuncture, cupping, massage, chiropractic, or physical therapy some people feel one is better for them than the other. Since the evidence on all of these is lacking in terms of which is more effective and for what conditions it all comes down to your personal preference.
“Can you imagine every time an athlete feels
sore from training they were given the option
of injections, anti-inflammatories, or surgery?
Other than those options there’s not much else”
With the media explosion of cupping therapy there were lots of experts of medicine who chalked up the use of complementary medicine by athletes as a bit silly. “Athletes are always looking for something that gives them a competitive edge. If it makes them feel a little better then what’s the harm? It’s mostly just the placebo effect.”
As discussed it’s probably not a placebo. We just need better research. I have found that the number one reason athletes and the general public have turned to complementary and alternative medicine is because medicine does not offer any soft tissue treatment other than medicine, injections, or surgery. Can you imagine every time an athlete feels sore from training they were given the option of injections, anti-inflammatories, or surgery? Other than those options there’s not much else. Given that the research does not debunk any of these treatments and says there is promise for these treatments I’d say they are doing something more than just a placebo.
Matthe
w Snow is a Licensed Massage Therapist practicing in Greenwich, CT. If you would like to schedule or make an appointment call (203)935-8904or email hello@h2tmuscleclinic.com. To learn more about Matt check out his About Page.
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