The benefits of cupping therapy for muscle pain

Have you ever noticed those circle-shaped marks on the skin of athletes such as Michael Phelps or Karim Benzema? These reddish marks are the result of the cupping therapyThis is a practice that comes from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This cupping therapy would be very effective to relieve muscle aches and improve blood circulation. But what is it really?

What is cupping therapy? 

Cupping therapy is an ancestral therapeutic practice of Chinese medicine. Also known as hijama (which means "to absorb" in Arabic) or ventous therapy, this technique has been widely used over the centuries by Eastern, Indian and European practitioners.

Cupping therapy consists of placing suction cups on the skin to draw blood and cause muscles to relax. This blood surge would allow the organization to release endorphinshormones with a analgesic effect.

Most often made of glass, the suction cups can also be made of earthenware or bamboo. They are placed on different parts of the body, mainly the back and the shoulders, in order to reduce muscle tensions.

This explains the famous red marks left on the treated areas of the body. These marks can remain visible for several days after the session.

This practice was notably brought to the attention of the general public during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Michael PhelpsThe American swimmer, champion of swimming and record holder of the number of Olympic medals, had intrigued many observers with his red marks on his back during the final of the 4 x 100 meters relay. The medical staff of the American swimmer had confided after the race that he often used this technique to reduce muscle fatigue.

Many other professional athletes regularly use cupping therapy to improve their sports performance. This is for example the case of :

• Karim Benzema, Real Madrid striker and player of the French soccer team;
• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors player and NBA 3-point shot record holder;
• Giánnis Antetokoúnmpo, another NBA basketball player, twice voted MVP of the regular season;
• Sonny Bill Williams, former New Zealand All Blacks rugby player;
• Conor McGregor, a whimsical Irish MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter and two-division champion in the UFC;
• Khabib Nurmagomedov, also a UFC fighter, considered one of the best in his discipline.

How does a cupping therapy session work?

A cupping therapy session must be performed with a competent and recognized practitioner, ideally a physiotherapist or an osteopath. It usually lasts between 20 and 30 minutes.

Each session begins with a discussion with the therapist. This assessment allows the therapist to better understand your needs in order to best adapt the proposed treatment and to target the painful areas of the body.

While the red marks on the body from sucking can be impressive, the suction cup technique is actually not painful at all. In fact, it is quite the opposite, as cupping therapy favors the relaxation and well-being. In terms of relaxation, it can be compared to a massage or acupuncture session.

But in reality, there are two different versions of cupping therapy that need to be differentiated:

• Dry cupping therapy,
• wet cupping therapy.

Dry cupping therapy

Dry cupping therapy is the most widespread. This technique is used by the vast majority of athletes.

Skin aspiration can be performed in two ways: hot or cold.

When hot, the air in the glass cups is removed with a fire flame before they are applied. In the more modern cold version of cupping therapy, a pump system is placed on the suction cups to suck out the air.

Wet cupping therapy

Wet cupping therapy is the traditional version of hijama.

It consists in carrying out small superficial incisions on the area of the body to be treated, then sucking the blood out with the suction cups. This ancestral technique would allow to prevent and cure different diseases by removing the toxic substances present in the body.

Beware, unlike the dry method, this version of cupping therapy is currently forbidden in France. Performed under poor hygienic conditions, it can be responsible for the appearance of serious infections.

The benefits of cupping therapy for bodybuilders

The benefits of the therapy by dry cupping are numerous, especially for athletes who frequent the weight room.

First of all, it allows you to relax and get rid of the negative effects of daily stress.

Cupping therapy is also and above all a way to effectively reduce muscular tension. By activating the lymphatic system, it favors the blood circulation and allows the muscles to faster recovery.

After a strength training involving intense effort, the use of suction cups can therefore help to remove aches and pains and to recharge the batteries. In this sense, cupping is an excellent way to increase your performance and progress from session to session.

In addition to these benefits for the muscle recoveryThe cupping technique is said to have several other health benefits:

• reduction of joint pain (arthrosis, arthritis, etc.),
• improvement of sleep,
• prevention of digestive and respiratory disorders,
• reduction of headaches,
• relief of skin problems (eczema, acne, etc.).

At this point, it is important to note that few recent studies have been conducted on cupping therapy.

Organized research in Germany and in China by academics have nevertheless concluded that this technique can indeed reduce some pain. However, this is not enough to draw definitive conclusions.

If many athletes can testify to the virtues of this medical discipline, there are little scientific evidence of its effectiveness. Some professionals even question it, believing that it is a placebo acting on the psychological aspect of the patients.

Contraindications to cupping therapy

If the dry cupping technique does not present no danger for health, it is nevertheless advisable to take some precautions.

Thus, cupping therapy is not recommended for pregnant women, children under 10 years old and the elderly.

This is also the case if you have just undergone surgery, if you have a kidney transplant or if you have heart problems.

If in doubt, it is always best to seek the advice of your doctor before performing a cupping session.

Conclusion

Like acupuncture for example, cupping therapy is a good way for athletes to relieve pain and relax. It is currently very popular, especially among top athletes. However, the benefits of this discipline of traditional Chinese medicine have not yet been proven by scientific studies. And you, tell me in comments if you use cupping to recover faster after your sports sessions.