16/08/2016
(CNN) — Those dark red spots dotting Olympians' shoulders and backs are not cigar burns. They're not perfectly circular hickeys either.
Viewers watching the Olympics this weekend may have spotted the pepperoni-like bruises on athletes and wondered: What is that?
Olympians at Rio have taken to cupping -- an ancient therapy that have mostly been used in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, especially China.
The therapy consists of having round glass suction cups that are warmed, then placed on sore parts of the body. The placement of the glass cup creates a partial vacuum, which is believed to stimulate muscles and blood flow, while relieving pain.
Michael Phelps, US gymnast Alex Naddour and Belarus swimmer Pavel Sankovich have all posted pictures of their polka dotted limbs and backs.
Sankovich wrote earlier this summer on his Instagram account: "Cupping is a great recovery tool," with a photo of his thighs covered in suction cups. Former Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin has also previously posted pictures of herself going through a cupping therapy.
Phelps showed snippets of his cupping therapy on his Instagram as well as his Under Armour commercial.
It's not the first time cupping has made the rounds. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Simpson have all been spotted with the marks in previous years
