PARIS, July 31 — The Paris Olympics have not only showcased athletic prowess but also therapies such as ice baths and osteopathy, which experts claim have little scientifically proven medical value. Athletes often seek every possible method to enhance performance and alleviate pain, making the Olympics a hotspot for dubious medical treatments.
"In sport, there is significant promotion of all kinds of alternative medicine—athletes have a high demand for these treatments," French neurologist and pain specialist Didier Bouhassira told AFP.
Rise of Pseudoscientific Fads In the 2016 Rio Games, cupping was the latest pseudoscientific trend, championed by athletes like US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. However, scientific evidence supporting the benefits of applying heated cups to the skin remains scant, suggesting it might be no more effective than a placebo.
This year in Paris, cryotherapy has taken center stage. Athletes are increasingly using cold-water swimming, ice baths, and advanced cooling chambers, claiming these methods aid in post-exercise recovery.
The Ice Craze A recent editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that the federations participating in the Paris Games collectively requested over 16,000 tons of ice, costing €2.5 million (RM12.5 million). Due to logistical constraints, the Olympics will only receive 650 tons—still ten times more than needed for the Tokyo Games three years ago.
The editorial criticized the routine use of cryotherapy, noting that while ice baths can treat conditions like heat stroke, athletes often seek benefits that are not evidence-based. The authors warned that excessive ice use could delay tissue regeneration or impair recovery, and also highlighted the environmental impact of producing and transporting such large amounts of ice.
Questionable Therapies Osteopathy, another alternative medicine favored by athletes, is well-represented at the Olympics. Osteopaths are integrated into team staff and the official Olympic clinic. However, osteopathy, which aims to restore health through body manipulations, lacks a solid scientific foundation, and its effectiveness remains highly contested.
Studies with rigorous methodology have found no significant effects for various osteopathic practices, such as cranial or visceral osteopathy. Other osteopathic manipulations, similar to those performed by physiotherapists, have shown no clear advantage over conventional, evidence-based physiotherapy.
A 2021 randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine compared osteopathic manipulations with "sham" treatments like light touching in 400 patients with back pain. The study concluded that the difference between the two was "likely not clinically meaningful."
"Osteopaths provide athletes with a sense of well-being without curative properties," said Pascale Mathieu, president of Frances council of physiotherapists. Mathieu expressed concern about osteopathy entering hospitals, emphasizing the need for evidence-based treatments.
Commercial Exploitation Companies have also been accused of leveraging the Olympics to promote products of dubious medical value. French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi faced criticism for marketing a "pain-relieving" patch called Initiv, endorsed by athletes like French Olympian Kevin Mayer. Sanofi claims the patch reflects the bodys infrared energy to relieve pain.
However, Didier Bouhassira remains skeptical, despite Sanofi stating that a clinical trial of the patch had been "received favorably by the scientific community."
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