奇速英语

菲尔普斯使用拔罐

Michael Phelps had purple marks on his shoulders while competing in the men's 4x100-meter relay at the Rio Olympics on Sunday. As the swimmer reached down to help Nathan Adrian out of the pool, several purple dots on his back and shoulder from the ancient healing technique of cupping(拔火罐) were seen clearly. Phelps has been using the technique to help his muscles recover and perform at their best. It involves heating small glass cups, then placing them on the skin and pulling them from the body to loosen and relax the muscles.

The process dates back to Egyptian, Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures and works by putting glass cups to the skin, creating suction(吸) as a way of improving energy. Some techniques even use heated cups, which Phelps favors. He even filmed himself having the treatment.

Some experts are doubting the treatment's effectiveness, but Phelps has been using it for a while. And the 31-year-old swimmer, swimming in his fifth Olympics, said it on Sunday night. The American superstar won the 19th Gold of his career. The gold is one of his many Olympic medals which include 19 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes.

Phelps isn't the only member of Team USA who is interested in cupping. Several American Olympians have been pictured with small round marks on their backs and shoulders. Team USA gymnast Alex Naddour is also happy to go public and posted a picture of himself with a cupping mark clearly in view. Naddour said that he found cupping could help reduce the ache from the training. “That's been the secret that I have had through this year that keeps me healthy,” Naddour said. “It's been better than any money I've spent on anything else.” He added, “Our bodies are going to hurt after doing this for so long. It's the best thing that I've ever had. It has saved me from a lot of pain.”