Unleashing Olympic potential with integrative therapies: Cupping
The 2024 Summer Olympics are upon us and athletes worldwide are intensifying their training regimens, seeking every advantage to achieve peak performance. Beyond traditional training methods, many are turning to integrative therapies including cupping to enhance recovery, manage pain, and optimize overall health. At Rowan Medicine, Dr. Alex King and Dr. Altamash Raja offer these treatments, helping athletes of all ages and levels achieve their best.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping is an ancient practice that has gained significant traction among athletes for its potential to enhance recovery and performance. It involves placing cups on the skin to create negative pressure suction, which causes mild acute inflammation, helping to improve blood flow, reduce muscle tension, and promote healing.
Benefits of Cupping for Athletes:
- Enhanced Blood Circulation: The suction created by the cups increases blood flow to the targeted area, aiding in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients necessary for tissue repair.
- Muscle Relaxation: Cupping can relieve tight muscles, reducing pain and improving flexibility.
- Speedy Recovery: By promoting blood flow and reducing muscle tension, cupping can accelerate recovery from intense training sessions and injuries.
King, who practices in the Rowan-Virtua Neuromusculoskeletal Institute (NMI), incorporates cupping as part of his multifaceted approach to help athletes overcome both acute and chronic pain. “Side effects of cupping often include bruising and the characteristic circular marks on the skin due to capillary disruption,” explains King. “Many professional and Olympic athletes utilize cupping immediately prior to their competition to increase their range of motion and improve their subjective sense of being ‘warmed up’ in certain areas of the body, hence why Michael Phelps utilized it on his back and shoulders before his swimming events.”
To book an appointment, call: 856-566-7010.