Cupping has been the buzz of the sports medicine world since the Olympics kicked off Aug. 5.
Sports therapists from Penn Medicine explained what the therapeutic treatment is to CBS Philly.
Head Athletic Trainer Eric Laudano and Chief of Sports Medicine Brian Sennett, MD, both have extensive experience with the treatment. Here are six thoughts.
1. Cupping allegedly helps to reduce soreness and speed up healing.
2. Mr. Laudano said the treatment has become a common therapy and it can be done with either a specialized glass contraption or with heat. The suction causes the capillaries beneath the surface of the skin to rupture.
3. Dr. Sennett said the treatment was originally developed by Chinese physicians in "an effort to take out evil toxins in the body." It works on soft tissue to reduce soreness and improve healing by increasing blood flow.
4. Dr. Sennett recommends having the treatment performed by a athletic trainer.
5. There are no studies that prove the effectiveness of cupping.
6. Armadillo Sports Chiropractic Co-Owner Chad Peters, MD, said his practice has received around 50 phone calls from people interested in the practice. He added that every Olympic season brings a new "fad" therapy to the sports medicine world.
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