Research and News
Biofreeze
Biofreeze proven better than ice again!
Sep 29th
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Topical analgesics such as Biofreeze® are frequently used to reduce muscle pain. The main ingredient in Biofreeze, menthol, is thought to reduce pain through a counter-irritant mechanism and through stimulation of cold receptors. (Watch a video of that explains the mechanism of Biofreeze here). Previous research has shown that compared to ice, Biofreeze topical analgesic results in similar decreases in blood flow (Olive et al. 2010) and greater pain relief in patients with neck pain (Bishop et al. in press).
Dr. David Behm
Thera-Band Academy Scientific Advisory Committee member Dr. David Behm of Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada compared Biofreeze to ice in terms of its ability to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and increase muscle force production. He presented his results at the 2011 TRAC meeting in San Francisco. Two groups, each with 8 subjects, had DOMS induced in their non-dominant biceps. Two days later, either ice or Biofreeze was applied to their sore biceps. Subjects were asked to rate their pain perception and muscle function was measured with maximal voluntary contraction and tetanic force using electrical stimulation.
Biofreeze resulted in significantly less pain compared to More >
Does Biofreeze affect blood flow after exercise?
Aug 1st
Dr. Robert Topp and his colleagues at the University of Louisville have studied the effects of Biofreeze® pain reliever on blood flow. Olive et al. (2010) showed that Biofreeze gel applied to the forearm of young healthy subjects resulted in similar decreases in blood flow as crushed ice. In addition, the reduced blood flow occurred much quicker with Biofreeze than with ice.
Different Biofreeze products contain different levels of menthol, depending on the delivery mechanism. Dr. Topp and his colleagues wanted to see if there was any difference in blood flow reduction between Biofreeze wipes containing 10% menthol, compared to 3.5% menthol in Biofreeze gel applied to the lower extremity after brief, intense resistance exercise.
16 young, healthy subjects were assessed for popliteal blood flow in both the left and right knees before performing 3 maximal repetitions of isokinetic knee flexion and extension at 90 degrees per second. Immediately after the exercise, the subjects received one of 3 randomized conditions on the right leg only: gel, wipe, and no treatment (control). Blood flow was measured again, 5 minutes after the treatment was applied. Each subject was tested once weekly until they had completed all 3 conditions.
The researchers found that both the Biofreeze gel and More >
Thera-Band and Biofreeze for Sports Specific Rehabilitation
Jun 24th
Dr. Barton Bishop, a member of the Thera-Band Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) published a feature article in PT Products magazine. He described how various products including Thera-Band® and Biofreeze® products can be used by clinicians for sport-specific rehabilitation. Read the story here.
Here are some excerpts from his article:
“It is obvious to most of us that pain is inhibitory—when we hurt, we don’t want to move. But pain also creates neurologic inhibition; pain will actually shut down the muscle and not allow it to work either properly, or at all. This is where topical treatments such as Biofreeze® can come into play. Research by Topp1 has shown that Biofreeze can reduce blood flow immediately after application, thus decreasing pain-causing inflammation. This is a great way to help an athlete play with less pain. Because it is extremely portable, fast-acting, and doesn’t stiffen an area like ice does, Biofreeze can be applied immediately before or during a practice or game.”
“This same idea of activating muscles based on their function and not their action should be repeated everywhere else in the body. The rotator cuff musculature serves a much greater purpose in sports than external rotation, internal rotation, and scaption. In an overhead More >
Thera-Band® First Step to Foot Relief™ Awarded APMA Seal of Acceptance
Apr 29th
Akron, OH (PRWEB) April 21, 2011. The American Podiatric Medical Association has awarded the APMA Seal of Acceptance to the Thera-Band® First Step to Foot Relief™, a first-line treatment plan for heel pain. The seal is awarded to a product after the Committee on Podiatric Seals, a standing committee of the American Podiatric Medical Association, scientifically evaluates and determines whether the product allows normal foot function and promotes quality foot health.
The First Step to Foot Relief provides the podiatrist with an at-home treatment plan that enhances their in-clinic service with professional tools and an easy-to-follow program. The product was developed under the direction of practicing podiatrists, physical therapists and chiropractors to address heel pain.
“Over two million Americans suffer from heel pain, the most common ailment seen in podiatry today,” stated Elizabeth DeFranco, Podiatry Marketing Manager at Performance Health. “Our new First Step to Foot Relief provides a podiatrist with guided options to improve their patient’s well-being and to enhance their level of service for patients with heel pain. We are very pleased that the First Step to Foot Relief received the APMA’s Seal of Acceptance, which further validates the product’s value and impact.”
The APMA Seal of Acceptance recognizes products that have More >
Biofreeze® Pain Reliever Helps Clinic
Apr 27th
Timothy Tyler, PT, ATC, MS wanted to know if applying Biofreeze® Pain Reliever during a patient’s initial evaluation would decrease the rate of self-discharge from his private practice in New York. Advance for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine recently featured Tyler’s story.
From his experience as a member of the Thera-Band Reserach Advisory Committee (TRAC), he was aware of a study that showed that the application of Biofreeze on neck pain patients had signficantly greater pain reduction compared to ice. All new patients received Biofreeze Spray on their area of chief complaint at the end of their first visit. The patients also performed therapeutic exercises, received appropriate manual therapy and appropriate modalities, and they received a bottle of Biofreeze Spray with the instructions to use the Biofreeze product three times a day at home. The rate of self-discharges during the Biofreeze-application program period dropped to 1.6 percent (from 6.5 percent)-a 75-percent reduction. He presented his findings as part of a larger study involving other clinics at the TRAC 2010 research meeting.
