Cupping therapy
Suction cups on sore muscle, the source of those circular marks on athletes
Cups of glass or plastic go on the skin and a pump or flame draws the air out, so the skin and surface tissue lift into the cup for a few minutes. Round bruises follow. They fade over days, which is how the world learned about the practice during the 2016 Olympics. Athletes use it on tight or sore muscle as one piece of a recovery routine, alongside massage and stretching; a physio, trainer or acupuncturist does the work in a session of ten to fifteen minutes. Trials so far are small. Evidence for anything beyond short-term relief is thin, so it appears here as something a named person does, not as a treatment.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Michael PhelpsDoes it
Olympic swimmer · Most decorated Olympian in history
Cupping was a standing part of his recovery through his career. The same strength and conditioning trainer handled it for fifteen years, and he says he still goes for cupping and acupuncture twice a week.
Source: The Tim Ferriss Show #494: Michael Phelps and Grant Hackett, transcript
Aimed at the same thing
Other entries filed under fitness.
- Protocol$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Resistance training
Lifting weights 2-4 times a week to build and hold muscle
On record from 43 of 62 tracked people: 37 do it, 4 recommend it, 2 have discussed it - Protocol$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Protein-forward eating
Roughly 1g of protein per pound of target bodyweight, spread across meals
On record from 21 of 62 tracked people: 15 do it, 5 recommend it, 1 has discussed it - ProtocolFREE, no cost
Zone 2 cardio
Easy aerobic work you can hold a conversation through, 3+ hours a week
On record from 12 of 62 tracked people: 5 do it, 5 recommend it, 2 have discussed it - Protocol$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Cycling
Steady riding, outdoors or on a stationary bike, as daily low-intensity cardio
On record from 9 of 62 tracked people: 9 do it - ProtocolFREE, no cost
Stability and mobility work
Daily joint, foot and breathing work to keep strength usable
On record from 8 of 62 tracked people: 7 do it, 1 has discussed it - Protocol$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Yoga
Regular yoga practice for flexibility, strength and a calmer nervous system
On record from 8 of 62 tracked people: 8 do it
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