09 Aug. 2016– Even though the man just won his 19th gold medal i
n Rio, fans seemed to focus on what the bruises on Michael Phelps’ back were. To answer those questions, it’s simply a side effect of a certain type of therapy called cupping.
Cupping includes placing heated glass cups on certain areas of the body. Because the cups are heated, it causes suction therefore leaving patients with bruises just like the ones seen on Phelps. Cupping can be used for reducing muscle pain, and increasing blood flow. However, that’s not its only benefit.
According to Yahoo.com, Phelps isn’t the only one doing it. Alex Naddour, a member of the USA men’s gymnastic team posted a photo on Instagram showing similar bruising.
With that being said, it looks like these bruises have made more news than they should have. It’s simply another way for these athletes to deal with the pain that comes with working as hard as they do.
Article by: Nick Husni
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