Red circle question

[todbo]

I've been seeing red circles on the shoulders of both men and women basketball players. What is their significance?

 

[Argonaut]

Cupping therapy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

What Is Cupping? Does It Work? | Cedars-Sinai

Cupping became mainstream after the 2016 Summer Olympics, when swimmer Michael Phelps showed up with round bruises on his back. Today cupping is widely used for relief of pain and muscular-skeletal injuries, such as strains, sprains, and inflammation. But does it work?

www.cedars-sinai.org

 

[todbo]

Aha. Thanks, Argonaut.

 

[triaddukefan]

might have to try this out...

 

[Drumguy]

Thanks, I was wondering what was up with the red circles!

 

[HuskyNan]

might have to try this out...

My massage therapist has done it to me when I have horrible cramps in my legs. They are excruciatingly painful if the muscle is really tight but, oh, it feels great when the circulation is restored. But, it’s not a spa-like treatment.

 

[JordyG]

You should have seen Michael Phelps' body at the last Olympics. In fact:

 

[BobbyJ]

might have to try this out...

I wonder if anybody has set up a drive thru service. Once a week on the shoulders and low back would be great.

 

[Dublin]

Cupping therapy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

What Is Cupping? Does It Work? | Cedars-Sinai

Cupping became mainstream after the 2016 Summer Olympics, when swimmer Michael Phelps showed up with round bruises on his back. Today cupping is widely used for relief of pain and muscular-skeletal injuries, such as strains, sprains, and inflammation. But does it work?

www.cedars-sinai.org

But does it work on migraines ?

 

[Bald Husky]

My son had it done when we took a trip to China. There were about 9 of those on his back, looked like he was attacked by a squid. Never saw anything like it, hope I never will again.

 

[topogigio]

I thought either a bad basketball tattoo, or cupping. I was favoring the tattoo.

 

[choochoo]

cupping, my wife has it done every 2 weeks. She swears by it.

 

[Biff]

When I was a young sprout (8-10 years old) I discovered that if I took one of our plastic drinking cups and propped it over my lower lip and chin and then sucked a vacuum in the cup real hard it stuck to my chin! What a neat trick. So I went around the house the whole day doing that. I thought I was cool.

The next morning I discovered that my chin was a semicircle of dark purple. I had to go to school like that and get hammered about it by everyone the next day.

I was cupping pioneer.

 

[Rocket009]

Cupping – Olympic Pseudoscience

Four years ago, while watching the 2012 Olympic Games, I noticed a lot of athletes wearing colored strips in various patterns on their body. I discovered that these strips were called kinesiotape,

sciencebasedmedicine.org

 

[psconn]

Cupping therapy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

What Is Cupping? Does It Work? | Cedars-Sinai

Cupping became mainstream after the 2016 Summer Olympics, when swimmer Michael Phelps showed up with round bruises on his back. Today cupping is widely used for relief of pain and muscular-skeletal injuries, such as strains, sprains, and inflammation. But does it work?

www.cedars-sinai.org

Following the references to the source of the conclusion of the Cedars Sinai article, I note that it was based on a review of studies that concluded that there were too few randomized clinical trials (RCTs) done and that they are of low quality. "...the total number of RCTs included in the analysis and the methodological quality were too low to draw firm conclusions." A bold admission considering that the review was funded by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.

 

[Argonaut]

Following the references to the source of the conclusion to the Cedars Sinai article, I note that it was based on a review of studies that concluded that there were to few randomized clinical trials (RCTs) done and that they are of low quality. "...the total number of RCTs included in the analysis and the methodological quality were too low to draw firm conclusions." A bold admission considering that the review was funded by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.

I wasn't trying to confirm or deny its effectiveness (but Nan says it works for her...), todbo just asked what the red circles were and I answered.

Athletes are entitled to use whatever recovery strategies they want (sans using banned substances), so if they feel like it works for them, then who's to judge?

 

[bramos]

76 years old. Back in my baseball days, cupping was adjusting your protective cup. I still see it all the time with the MLB players..

 

[psconn]

I wasn't trying to confirm or deny its effectiveness (but Nan says it works for her...), todbo just asked what the red circles were and I answered.

Athletes are entitled to use whatever recovery strategies they want (sans using banned substances), so if they feel like it works for them, then who's to judge?

I wasn't implying that you were taking any position at all, and my post didn't reference you in any way. IMO, for a hospital and health center, the Cedars Sinai article is oddly accommodating of psuedo-scientific practices (quoting an on-staff acupuncture practitioner), while the Wikipedia article you posted comes off as harshly skeptical of the practice (quoting noted physicians and skeptics). So...

 

[CL82]

Cupping therapy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

What Is Cupping? Does It Work? | Cedars-Sinai

Cupping became mainstream after the 2016 Summer Olympics, when swimmer Michael Phelps showed up with round bruises on his back. Today cupping is widely used for relief of pain and muscular-skeletal injuries, such as strains, sprains, and inflammation. But does it work?

www.cedars-sinai.org

I feel as if we missed an opportunity here by going directly to the actual answer.

 

[HuskyNan]

Following the references to the source of the conclusion to the Cedars Sinai article, I note that it was based on a review of studies that concluded that there were too few randomized clinical trials (RCTs) done and that they are of low quality. "...the total number of RCTs included in the analysis and the methodological quality were too low to draw firm conclusions." A bold admission considering that the review was funded by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.

The evidence is anecdoctal but as Argonaut says, it works for me. Rather than using pressure to relieve a muscle spasm or to increase circulation, the cups provide a pulling on the muscle. My massage therapist does it when massaging a pressure point doesn’t work. She’ll also use a muscle stimulator, depending on the issue. It’s all drug free and non-invasive and, hey, can’t hurt to try it.