Sports Rituals And Superstitions

"I suspect that getting cupping prior to a race is no more effective than getting a relaxing massage minus any dubious health claims about toxins or chi. Visualizing your floor routine is probably as or more effective than rubbing your lucky charm."

Do Superstitious Rituals Help Performance?

Quackery Again Rears Its Head In The Olympics

"The cups don’t need to he heated; suction can also be created by removing air with a small hand-held pump. Either way, many athletes — including 19-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, who sported circular welts on his shoulders Sunday during the U.S. team’s gold-medal relay swim — are true believers."

‘Cupping Therapy’ Not Science Based, Yet Olympians Swear By It

Cupping

"Cupping is nothing more than an ancient medical practice based on a prescientific understanding of the body and disease, much like bloodletting and treatments based on the four humors."

What’s the harm? Cupping edition