Sporty Spots

During the 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, many viewers questioned the origins of the purple spots seen on US swimmer Michael Phelps during a relay event. Similarly, in recent years public attention has been drawn to the tell-tale circular markings on various other celebrities' bodies, including Justin Bieber, Jennifer Aniston, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The origin of these markings is an ancient practice called "cupping," which uses suction to attach a cup to skin for purported therapeutic benefit. In recent times, the practice has been popularized in the United States as a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice.