Why Are Some Olympic Athletes Covered in Bright Red Spots?

The Olympics in Rio have been a talking point for a number of reasons. One of the more peculiar discussions has been the red circles appearing on athletes’ bodies. Is it something in the water? Is it an infection? Is it performance enhancing? Read on to find out.

The actual answer is that Olympians have been using the ‘cupping’ technique. The process is thought to relieve pain, whilst also stimulating muscles and improving blood flow. So what is cupping?

Wet vs dry

There are two types of cupping – namely, wet and dry. Dry cupping is the creation of various suction points on the body. A warm glass cup is applied to the skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it pulls the skin upwards, creating a suction point.

Wet cupping extends the process. After the suction points are created, small cuts are made on them. The cupping process is then repeated to extract, or ‘suck up’ blood from the suction point. This is supposed to remove and eliminate any infected blood or fluid.

So where does it come from?

Dry cupping has been used by some doctors to reduce the symptoms of shingles, breathing problems, skin conditions and even facial paralysis. Its main purpose, though, is to reduce pain. This could be anything from pain associated with cancer, to pain from backache. It isn’t actually a new phenomenon, however. It dates back to over 2,000 years ago, when the Chinese, Egyptians, and Greeks all used it medically.

Olympians cupping

Out of the two types, it’s dry cupping that’s being used by Olympians. The purpose will be to relieve the pain endured during training and competing, but also to stimulate their body beforehand. It isn’t just minor Olympians either. The technique is being used by the most successful Olympian ever – Michael Phelps. In the past, we’ve even seen the red suction points on celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Infected blood

Cupping is claimed to treat some blood disorders like anaemia and haemophilia. One of the biggest problems with blood, however, comes with infections. Sepsis – the body’s reaction to infection – can be life-threatening. ‘A New Tool in the Clinical Management of Sepsis’ looks at how sepsis affects the body, and how sepsis management can be boosted. Early diagnosis can be pivotal. The ‘sepsis six’ toolkit, developed by the UK Sepsis Trust, could aid medical professionals in screening and dealing with sepsis.