Cupping is a manual therapy where small, medium, or large specialized cups (depending on the injury) are suctioned to the skin. Cupping gained public attention during the Rio Olympics due to athletes being seen with small circles on their backs and shoulders caused by the treatment. The treatment is much older than that though, and has many medical benefits. Cupping helps to address injuries by increasing blood flow to the injured area. It also loosens the myofasical layers under the skin and improves the pliability of the tissue. Increasing blood flow and pliability can help to decrease recovery time associated with repetitive injuries, overuse injuries, sprain/strains, and pain. Bringing new blood to an injured area brings vital nutrients to promote healing. The cupping treatment will usually last 2-5 minutes and is non-painful. In some cases it may cause bruising and skin discoloration associated with the new blood flow to the area. This is not considered dangerous and will usually dissipate within a couple of days