Winning Therapies Used By Olympic Athletes

Athletes aren’t medallists by chance. It takes hard work, dedication and the odd treatment or two.

- Sarah Ivory

Here’s something we do know: Olympic athletes use alternative therapies to gain an edge over their competitors. The red circular marks that decorated Team USA’s Michael Phelps (swimming) and Alexander Naddour (gymnastics) at the Rio Olympics prove this. After many people speculated about where the purple dots had come from, it emerged that the athletes had been using the ancient Chinese medicine, cupping therapy, to increase blood flow and reduce muscle soreness. Team USA use it in addition to acupuncture and massage therapy. Sure, suction cups and needles might not appeal to everyone, but it makes sense for sports people who are looking to get marginal gains over their fellow racers to invest in alternative therapies. And this approach is nothing new – kit, training schedules, food intake – athletes are forever making small changes in the hope that they will lead to big improvements. But it’s not only cupping therapy that the pros turn to in times of need – the reality is that there are oodles of treatments that can boost sports performance. Here are a few of the latest therapies the pros swear by.

PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP) INJECTIONS

This therapy is touted to repair damaged tendons, ligaments and cartilage, such as those experienced when suffering from tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis. The patient’s blood is injected into the injured area. Tennis player Rafael Nadal is said to be a fan.