Anyone who participates in sports activities knows that there are some items that you should have in your sports bag. No matter how old you are, a muscle sprain, strain, or bruise can happen. There is nothing worse than suffering a muscle injury in a closely contested game or match. Unfortunately it will happen and you have to be prepared. When you’re racing, you never know what or when a nagging injury is going to happen. The important thing is that you have it when you need it. Almost none of the competitors I know want to quit unless the injury is serious. I’m sure you’ll agree that the following 5 types of products are truly essential for any serious athlete:
YO. Before the competition:
My favorite pre-sports treatment for muscle aches and pain (especially lower back pain) is a product called ThermoDerm. Most will remember the “atomic balm” that most trainers used to treat deep muscle injuries. It was a thick, sticky substance that stank in the locker room and everything it touched. The good thing about “atomic balm” was that it lasted a long time. The advantage of ThermoDerm is that it is easy to apply and is a deep penetrating lotion that warms the muscles for a long period of time. Most typical “drugstore” products I’ve tried work for less than an hour. Thermoderm is still working after 2 hours. It has very little odor and washes off easily. Thermoderm is very useful for me and I highly recommend it.
II.After a muscle or joint injury:
The muscle pain reliever I have used the most after a muscle injury is the popular product BioFreeze. I apply BioFreeze to the injured area and wrap it (if possible) with an elastic bandage to compress the injured muscle tissue. BioFreeze is also quite effective for the treatment of joint pain, tendonitis, bursitis, and arthritis. BioFreeze’s cooling effect helps relieve pain so you can finish your sporting event. Biofreeze is also very low in odor and is also easy to wash off. Biofreeze is available in several different easy to apply packages. Another product I use for minor joint pain is Mueller cooling spray. Provides an immediate cooling effect to relieve pain. The benefit of this product is the fact that it works immediately and is easily sprayed on the injured area. The downside is that it won’t last as long or penetrate as deeply as BioFreeze. I use Mueller Cooling Spray primarily for golf and always carry it in my golf bag.
3rd Tape and wraps:
The product that I have used quite often for different applications has been the great old fashioned bandage that you can get at any drug store. I like the 4-inch width better because it can cover more area with less slip like smaller sizes do. Newer versions use Velcro at the end of the wrap so you don’t have to use those old pointy clips that scratch your skin.
The newest product is a cohesive elastic bandage. Cohesive elastic bandage is actually an elastic wrap that sticks to itself. The bandage easily adapts to the joints of the body, large or small. It features a special cohesive material that doesn’t stick to skin or hair, only to itself, making removal easy and painless. It can be easily torn by hand, so no scissors or special dispenser are needed. Another product breakthrough is Fabrifoam flexible wraps that include a thin layer of flexible insulation for better support and compression. The team’s athletic trainers are “artists” with athletic tape, using it for any number of different sports injuries.
IV. Cold therapy:
When you are done with your athletic activity, you need to apply cold to your sprain or strain. Cold therapy reduces pain, inflammation, and swelling. If ice is not available, I would recommend an instant chemical cold pack that offers immediate cold without refrigeration or freezing. Just squeeze the bag to activate it and the bag will cool down. If ice can be obtained, I personally use an inexpensive sports ice pack that safely holds cold water, crushed ice, or ice cubes for quick and easy cold therapy. Use a bandage to hold the ice pack against the injured body part. Another option is an ice pack combined with an attached adjustable neoprene wrap that allows for hands-free cold therapy application. The neoprene thermal wrap maintains the necessary temperature for longer and provides adjustable compression with strong hook-and-loop closures.
v. Suspenders (be prepared):
It’s a good idea to keep a basic knee brace and an easy-to-use ankle brace in your bag at all times. Those joints are the key places that everyone has the most trouble with. A basic knee and ankle brace is usually made of a stretchy elastic or neoprene.
