There's much ado about the purple spots marking superstar swimmer Michael Phelps and other Olympic athletes, and one Bay Area therapist had some insight on what is called "cupping therapy."
The practice sucks skin and muscle to supposedly increase blood flow, according to experts.
"It's kind of like an inverted deep tissue massage," said Angel King of Lokahi Acupuncture in San Jose. "Instead of pressing in to break everything up, everything gets pulled up."
Basically, it involves a cup attached to a pump. Athletes put the cup on their skin for about 5 minutes and create suction with the pump. Some say the technique helps a person’s sore muscles heal.
Doctors have mixed reviews on whether or not the therapy works. It was first used in ancient China but more recently caught on with prominent athletes such as Phelps and 12-time Olympic medalist and Bay Area native Natalie Coughlin.
"I have always responded really really well to it, and it kind of spread amongst the swim team," said Coughlin, who was born in Vallejo and swam at Cal.
Centers such as Lokahi couldn't be happier to accommodate the U.S. Olympians.
