Research and News
Biofreeze
Performance Health Introduces New, Improved Biofreeze® Pain Reliever
Jan 3rd
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Akron, Ohio – Performance Health introduces new, improved Biofreeze® Pain Reliever. For over 20 years, Biofreeze Pain Reliever has been helping people reduce their pain and manage discomfort. This market leading topical analgesic provides relief for millions of individuals suffering from sore or strained muscles, shoulder and arm discomfort, neck, hip and leg pain, back pain, painful joints, ankle and foot pain, and pain associated with bruising or arthritis.
Best. Biofreeze. Ever.
“We took the #1 clinically used and recommended topical analgesic and improved it based on customer feedback. The result is a formula that is preferred by 4 out of 5 topical analgesic users. We made it better in three key ways,” stated Doug Stuckey, Senior Product Manager, Performance Health. “First, we made the new formula more natural by adding an enhanced botanical blend and removing the paraben and propylene glycol. Next, we added two new effective skin conditioners so it applies easier and penetrates quickly. And finally, we created a colorless option for patients and practitioners who prefer dye-free products.”
New, improved Biofreeze is 100% paraben-free and propylene glycol-free, and is available More >
Biofreeze reduces blood flow faster than ice
Nov 28th
Dr. Robert Topp
The Academy Blog has shared several articles about research on the mechanisms of Biofreeze from Dr. Robert Topp. Recently, he published an article in the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation comparing ice and Biofreeze® gel on blood flow and muscle strength. 17 healthy adults were assessed for blood flow in their radial artery and wrist extension strength after 3 different conditions: ice applied to the forearm, Biofreeze gel applied to the forearm, or a control condition.
The Biofreeze gel significantly reduced blood flow by 42% at 5 minutes after application, which returned to normal at 10 to 15 minutes after application. In contrast, the ice didn’t significantly decrease blood flow until 20 minutes of application at a 48% reduction.
Interestingly, ice caused a slowing of muscle recovery in wrist extension strength after application. This was in contrast to Biofreeze application, which actually increased wrist extension strength by 8%.
Dr. Topp and his colleagues suggest that the menthol in Biofreeze “may affect blood flow through neural mechanisms that respond faster…but are also quickly sensitized.”
In summary, Biofreeze topical analgesic creates a reduction in blood flow at a magnitude similar to ice (about 45%), but does so within the first 5 minutes. Ice takes 20 minutes More >
New article on topical analgesics in PT Products
Nov 21st
Dr. Phil Page recently published an article in PT Products on the use of topical analgesics in practice. Below is an excerpt from his article:
Typically, ice is applied to the skin to create a cold response in order to reduce pain because cold reduces the pain threshold. Menthol creates a chemical action on cold receptors rather than a physical action, resulting in a cold response. Patel and colleagues provide an excellent review of the mechanisms behind menthol. TRPM8 receptors stimulate small-diameter fibers, making the counterirritant mechanism less likely. Similar to ice, topical application of menthol in 3.5% gel reduces blood flow by 35% within 60 seconds of application, and remains ~20% reduced at 10 minutes after application. Recently, Topp and colleagues noted increased blood flow in both lower limbs after application to one limb, suggesting a possible systemic mechanism of typical menthol.
Does Biofreeze reduce hand pain in massage?
Oct 6th
Biofreeze® topical analgesic has been shown to reduce pain in patients with neck pain, low back pain, and knee osteoarthritis. Massage therapists often use Biofreeze with massage. According to Dr. Tiffany Field at the University of Miami, hand massage reduces pain and increases grip strength. Dr. Field wanted to know if applying Biofreeze after hand massage had an additive effect in subjects with hand pain.
Twenty adults with a variety of hand pain diagnoses received weekly 10-minute massages from a massage therapist and instruction in home-based self-massage between weekly visits. Half of the subjects received Biofreeze in addition to their hand massage and were instructed to apply it to their hands as well. After 4 weeks, the groups using Biofreeze significantly increased in grip strength and decreased in pain compared to the group not receiving Biofreeze.
Dr. Field concluded that adding Biofreeze to a massage therapy protocol resulted in significant benefits compared to massage alone. Her results were presented at the 2011 TRAC meeting in San Francisco.
Read the abstract of her study here: Hand pain is reduced by massage therapy plus Biofreeze® Topical Analgesic
Click here to learn more about all the research presented at TRAC 2011
More > Biofreeze reduces pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis patients compared to placebo
Oct 4th
Dr. Robert Topp at Marquette University has published several studies on the mechanisms of Biofreeze® topical analgesic, as well as exercise interventions using Thera-Band resistance in knee osteoarthritis patients. At TRAC 2011, Dr. Topp presented research on the efficacy of Biofreeze in 20 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The patients had either Biofreeze or a placebo gel applied to their knee; each then performed 5 functional tasks and subsequently reported their pain levels.
The subjects performed significantly better on the 6-minute walk and timed chair-stand when Biofreeze was applied. Applying Biofreeze also significantly reduced pain during the timed chair stand, timed up-and-go, as well as going up and down stairs.
Dr. Topp concluded that Biofreeze topical analgesic resulted in 30% less pain than a placebo during high-load functional tests in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Read the abstract of his study here: The effect of 3.5 % menthol gel on knee pain and functioning among patients with knee osteoarthritis
Click here to learn more about all the research presented at TRAC 2011
Listen to a podcast interview with Dr. Topp about his project by clicking on the link below:
Standard Podcast
