Cupping Marks On UFC Fighters, Good or Bad?
Cupping Marks On UFC Fighters, Good or Bad? | The Fight Physio Blog
Introduction
So there was a fairly viral post regarding cupping therapy in UFC fighters, and a correlation was made that all the fighters on the card with cupping marks ended up losing their fight.
Cupping therapy and its explanation in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Here is a quick summary of my view on the matter: –
I am not fully versed in TCM, but here is my take on it.
Cupping therapy has been around for a while in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM explains the marks as blood stagnation brought to the surface, or a removal of toxins from the region. The marks vary from red to a deep purple, depending on what the body has an excess of. The marks can stay on from a few hours to a few days.
photo: https://www.thomsontcm.sg/articles/what-do-your-cupping-colours-tell-you/
Cupping therapy and its effects on myofascia
From a medicine point of view, it’s has more to do with the myofascia. Myofascia is a layer between the skin and your skeletal frame that allows for your skin to move around freely above your muscles and bones. When the myofascia is dehydrated locking down the musculoskeletal body, there is a sign of inefficiency in that system. Therefore, when it is inefficient and the skin is pulled to the surface, there is an excess stretch of your myofascia, causing the marks to show.
Therefore, should the myofascia be working efficiently, the marks appear less when cupped.