Anyone who participates in sports activities knows that there are some items that you need to have in your gym bag. No matter how old you are, a muscle sprain, strain, or contusion can occur. There is nothing worse than suffering a muscle injury in a highly contested match or match. Unfortunately it will happen and you have to be prepared. When you’re competing, you never know what or when some lingering injury will 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 will agree that the following 5 types of products are really essential for any serious athlete:

I. Before the competition:

My favorite pre-sport treatment for muscle aches and pain (especially 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 of the typical “drugstore” products that I have tried work for less than an hour. Thermoderm still works after 2 hours. It has very little odor and washes away easily. Thermoderm is very useful to me and I highly recommend it.

II.After a muscle or joint injury:

The muscle pain reliever that I have used the most after a muscle injury is the popular BioFreeze product. 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 treating joint pain, tendonitis, bursitis, and arthritis. The cooling effect of BioFreeze helps relieve pain so you can finish your sporting event. Biofreeze also has very little odor and is also easy to wash. Biofreeze is available in several different easy-to-apply packages. Another product I use for minor joint pain is Mueller Coolant Spray. Provides an immediate cooling effect to relieve pain. The benefit of this product is the fact that it acts immediately and is easily sprayed on the injured area. The downside is that it won’t last long or penetrate as deeply as BioFreeze. I use Mueller Coolant Spray primarily for golf and always carry it in my golf bag.

III. Tape and wrappers:

The product that I have used quite often for different applications has been the great old bandage that you can get at any pharmacy. I like the 4-inch width better because it can cover more area with less slippage than the smaller size does. 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. The cohesive elastic bandage is really an elastic wrap that adheres to itself. The bandage easily adapts to large or small body joints. It has a special cohesive material that does not adhere to the skin or hair, only to itself, so removal is easy and painless. It can be easily torn by hand, so there is no need to use scissors or a special dispenser. Another product advancement is Fabrifoam flexible wraps that include a thin layer of flexible insulation for better support and compression. Team athletic trainers are “artists” with athletic tape and use it for any number of different sports injuries.

IV. Cold therapy:

When you are done with your athletic activity, you should 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 is available, 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 an ace 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 thermal neoprene wrap maintains the required temperature longer and provides adjustable compression with strong velcro closures.

V. Brakes (be prepared):

It’s a good idea to carry a basic knee brace and an easy-to-wear anklet in your bag at all times. Those joints are the key locations everyone has the most trouble with. A basic knee brace and ankle brace are usually made of a stretchy elastic or neoprene.