This year’s Olympics are now in full swing and it’s all eyes on the athletes.
From archery and shooting to athletics and gymnastics, there’s all kind of sports taking place across Paris, France, at the moment.
One fan-favorite sport to watch is the swimming, and this year there’s a whopping 854 athletes from 187 different countries competing.
But there’s a common theme you might have spotted with some of the swimmers and that’s the unusual dark red circles they have on their backs.
While it might look like they’ve had a fight with an octopus and lost, there’s a very different reason for the odd markings.
It turns out that the large spots are from cupping therapy – an ancient healing technique that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction and increase blood flow to the area.
The unconventional method is supposed to help with muscle recovery and is used as a type of deep tissue massage.
Some athletes were spotted with cupping therapy bruises back at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and it’s still seemingly popular now.
Gymnast Alexander Naddour told USA Today back in 2016 that cupping was supposedly the ‘secret’ to his health.
He added: “It’s been better than any money I’ve spent on anything else.”
Away from the Games, basketball player Kyle Singler has also praised cupping therapy.
“The bruises do look more intense than what they actually feel like, but the benefit from it is really great,” he previously insisted.
Singler continued to tell Sports Illustrated: “You’re not necessarily getting the immediate response that you might want but over time it does help with recovery and loosening tissue and stuff like that.”
But does cupping therapy actually work according to experts? It’s seems as if the jury’s still out.
According to Harvard Health, some studies have found that cupping might provide some relief for a number of musculoskeletal and sports-related conditions. The quality of this evidence was ‘limited’, however.
Elsewhere a 2022 review found that wet (as opposed to dry cupping) was effective for lower back pain.
While the bruises people get from cupping are pretty gnarly, the therapy is generally seen as safe to practice – even if people aren’t 100 percent on how affective it is.
“Most experts agree that cupping is safe. As long as those treated don’t mind the circular discolorations (which fade over a number of days or weeks), side effects tend to be limited to the pinch experienced during skin suction,” Harvard Health explains.
“It’s quite unusual that cupping causes any serious problems (though, rarely, skin infections have been reported).”
There you have it, folks.
Man Rescued a Trapped Crying Wild Horse: How It Thanked Him is Unbelievable
In a heartwarming turn of events just outside of Calgary, a team of compassionate individuals came together to save a distressed horse trapped in a treacherous wetland. The horse had strayed into the marshy terrain during a period of heavy rainfall, posing a significant risk to its safety.
Darla Connelly, who oversees such incidents, had expressed concerns about the newly arrived herd’s unfamiliarity with the challenging landscape, especially during this unusually wet season. Sadly, her fears materialized when a young horse wandered too far and found itself ensnared in the muddy quagmire.
As soon as the stranded horse signaled its distress, the rescue efforts kicked into high gear. Volunteers from the Help Alberta Wildlife Society swiftly mobilized, utilizing ATVs and specialized equipment to reach the scene. The horse was desperately struggling to stay afloat, teetering on the brink of sinking deeper into the mire.
One brave volunteer, Daryl Glover, ventured into the perilous mud to approach the frightened mare. With meticulous precision, he secured a rope around her hindquarters, providing crucial support during her ordeal. Through their coordinated efforts, the crisis was averted, and the horse began to regain its footing.
In a touching display of gratitude amid the tension of the rescue operation, the horse surprised everyone by approaching Daryl, nuzzling him, and even sniffing him in acknowledgment, rather than fleeing in fear. This unexpected gesture left the rescuers, including Darla Connelly, deeply moved, highlighting the profound connection between animals and humans.
With the assistance of the rescue team, the horse managed to find solid ground and make its way to safety. As it trotted off towards the safety of the tree line, seemingly unharmed, the volunteers, covered in mud yet filled with pride, marveled at the bond forged through their shared experience.
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