Exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel, known for his expertise in bodybuilding and fitness, recently stirred up controversy. He made a bold statement regarding cupping therapy used as part of physiotherapy. Dr. Mike sparked a heated debate with his recent Instagram video denouncing the effectiveness of cupping in injury recovery.

In the Instagram video, Israetel made his stance clear, stating, “Guys, for the record, cupping has neither evidence and support of it, nor any physiological rationale that real scientists can think of that would make it effective.” He went further to label cupping as a mere fad, expressing his skepticism about its perceived benefits.

Israetel explained his point, saying, “The probability that cupping does anything that is worth your time is very low.” He sees cupping as more of a passing trend, and stated, “I wouldn’t waste my time with cupping. I would file cupping under fad.” Dr. Mike used to try cupping to help his muscles heal, but now he and his team skip it altogether.

Instead, he relies on the RP Hypertrophy app for muscle care. He joked about the scars, both emotional and physical, that came from his cupping experiences. Dr. Mike’s message is simple: cupping probably isn’t worth your time. Instead of getting tied up in cupping sessions, he suggested using more reliable methods for muscle healing.

Israetel’s dismissal of cupping therapy as a mere fad raised eyebrows and sparked heated debates across his social media platform. His candid remarks didn’t sit well with his viewers. Many fans openly dismantled his advice, arguing that their personal experiences with cupping therapy had yielded positive results.

Cupping is effective, fans argue with Dr. Mike Israetel

Many people around the globe believe that cupping is effective.“Cupping definitely works. Helps to break up matted & dysfunctional fascia, improves circulation at target sites, and gives at LEAST temporary pain relief. Just because there isn’t a study that can show an exact mechanism of action doesn’t mean something isn’t helpful/useful in some context,” argued a fan, explaining that just because there isn’t scientific proof for how it works doesn’t mean it isn’t helpful in some situations. Similarly, another fan also disagreed with Israetel’s opinion, and said, “I don’t agree. I have done cupping and felt amazing. Also, science is not always right or precise..” Another sarcastically mentioned, “I’m thoughtfully entertained when viewing these posts.”

One fan shared his own experience and disapproved of Dr. Mike’s opinion, saying, “I don’t agree with this @drmikeclips I got shoulder pain for 3 years straight due to heavy loads and 1 session of cupping…. No more pain. I think it works for some areas if it’s done correctly by a PT.” While one mentioned, “There is evidence that cupping creates a decompressive effect in the underlying tissue…. It’s not to heal faster or remove ‘toxins.’” One user criticized Israetel’s approach to recovery, quipping, “This dude’s recovery ‘protocol’ is to lift more weights. I like his exercise advice but in recovery, he bashes pretty much everything he doesn’t do. lol.”

As the controversy rages on, one thing is clear: the divide between science and tradition continues to shape the landscape of healthcare and fitness. While some like Dr. Mike Israetel, swear by the tried-and-tested methods of modern science, others cling to age-old practices rooted in cultural heritage and personal experiences.