Red circles. Bruised backs. Scraping marks that look like you’ve lost a fight.

Cupping and muscle scraping have become some of the most recognisable recovery treatments in sport, but do they actually work?

In this episode, Bobby and Steffan dive into the science behind cupping therapy and Gua Sha (muscle scraping) after seeing both treatments widely used in hospitals and clinics during a tour of China.

Together they explore:

• What cupping actually does to your body
• Why athletes and performers swear by it
• The role of placebo in recovery
• Whether muscle scraping improves recovery or performance
• What the research currently says
• Why elite athletes continue to use treatments with limited evidence
• The difference between feeling better and performing better
• Where your recovery budget is best spent

They also discuss the power of placebo, performance culture in elite sport, recovery trends that refuse to die, and why visible treatments often become the most popular ones.

Plus, Stefan shares some bizarre discoveries from China, Bobby falls down another skincare rabbit hole, and you finally learn the truth about the MGM lion’s famous roar.

If you’ve ever wondered whether cupping, scraping, massage guns, recovery boots or the latest viral recovery trend are actually worth your time and money, this episode is for you.

🎭 Fit2Perform helps performers build stronger, healthier and more resilient bodies for life on stage.

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