The New York Times today ran a story debunking the effectiveness of over-the-counter sports creams, which is a multi-million dollar industry. The Times quoted Mayo Clinic doctors, pain management experts, American College of Sports Medicine specialists and researchers, and not one of them said the gooey stuff does much good in easing pain or speeding recovery.
Because there are no double-blind clinical studies to back up any claims of healing properties, these creams are about as effective as rubbing Crisco on your quads.
Pardon me a moment while I weep for all the money I've spent as a runner over the years on these creams. And I'm not alone. When I was at the Eugene, Ore., Marathon Expo last week, I saw runners snapping up free samples of analgesics. And in the corral before the start, I saw many a hamstring get lubed up.
I've tried them all -- ALCiS (ineffective), ProfenHPCream (somewhat effective) and FlexPower (not sure but it sure feels good on my calves) -- and pretty much had the attitude of, Well, it can't hurt, can it?
The ironic thing is that my orthopaedic doctor at the UC Davis Sports Medicine Clinic was the one who originally recommended FlexPower.
Oh, well.
