Warming groin with cream

[flavio]

Hey guys - I just spent the past hour or so reading up on tips to keep groin injuries away. A few people made reference to using a hot water bottle on the way to the arena to help heat the groin (I noticed I have slight discomfort at the beginning of games that disappears after 10 minutes or so, so this would probably help). My question has to do with using a cream to heat the groin area (Tiger Balm). As usual, I'm trying to take the lazy way out.

My wife (the pharmacist) says that since it's artificially heating the area, that it might do more harm than good. However, I've had a friend of mine use cream religiously for years before games, and swears by it.

Anyone with any experience using creams?

F.

[Timberwoof]

And holding a hot water bottle to a tender spot isn't also "artificially warming" it?

What the heating creams like Tiger Balmand BenGay do is irritate the skin to increase blood flow. That's why it warms up... How whether this significantly warms the muscles below is another matter. I suppose that for small muscles like the adductors, it might work.

[Goaler Pro 35]

Hey boys. It's interesting you bring this up. I remember reading an article a few weeks ago about various sports rubs and their active ingredients. Please take a look, as it addresses quite a few popular brands.

Go easy on medicated lotions, creams, gels - CNN.com

As for myself, I use Sportscreme around my tensor fascia lata/gluteus medius. My hip/groin pain is above the lateral hip and greater trochanter. (For those of you who've done some anatomy sports med study.) It was incorrectly diagnosed as trochanteric bursits. I'm guessing now it's just chronic tightness because it's been there on and off for the longer part of 2 years.

Anyway, I find that the Sportscreme takes the resting ache out of my hips and gives me more confidence to put more strength into explosive movements. See the threads about stretching, esp. that link someone posted about snapping hip and hip flexor stretches. PT has basically had me doing all those things to increase my flexibility.

[canaman34]

Originally Posted by Timberwoof

And holding a hot water bottle to a tender spot isn't also "artificially warming" it?

What the heating creams like Tiger Balmand BenGay do is irritate the skin to increase blood flow. That's why it warms up... How whether this significantly warms the muscles below is another matter. I suppose that for small muscles like the adductors, it might work.

I just have 1 question for you? Why is it that every single jock/groin/crotch thread is made, you are always the first or second to reply????? Just wondering

[flavio]

Originally Posted by Timberwoof

And holding a hot water bottle to a tender spot isn't also "artificially warming" it?

The "artificially warming" comment was my wife referencing the cream - I didn't ask her about the water bottle.

GP - thanks for the link - I will check it out.

F.

[jbgd825]

DONT DO IT!!!!!!!

five seconds after you put it on i SWEAR!! your private parts are going to be kicking you!

trust me its like getting kicked in the nuts over and over!!

and if you happen to try it and want it off, do NOT use water. gently scrub it off with a dry towel. water wll make things much much worse.

[paulsmachetti]

I use Icy Hot. I found that it comes in an application like a stick of deodorant. Makes it easy to put on, keeps it off your hands , and keeps it away from "The Boys". Then I wrap it w/an Ace Bandage. Doesn't get too hot. It's more habit now than anything else but it does keep the muscle warm and loose for me.
Paul

[lucky sieve]

never tried it but I would say try K*Y warming gel. It is water soluble so after you are warmed up it will wash away, I don't know but could stain. It shouldn't be to hot to hurt the kids; putting it on before and streching should help.

[Timberwoof]

Okay, now why are you guys putting BenGay on your dangly bits? That may be good for certain adult NSFW activities[1], but if you want to loosen up your femoral adductors, then rub it on the inside of your thighs.

Originally Posted by canaman34

I just have 1 question for you? Why is it that every single jock/groin/crotch thread is made, you are always the first or second to reply????? Just wondering

Well, it's not every such thread. Maybe many of them. Maybe other guys are embarrassed to talk about jocks and groins and such threads languish until I come along to break the ice. Is it a problem for you that I'm willing to talk about such stuff?


[1] Don't ask. No, really: Don't ask.

[canaman34]

Its just wierd... Thats all.

[Timberwoof]

Originally Posted by canaman34

Its just wierd... Thats all.

Well, the real answer is that there's a secret BBS conspiracy that you haven't been let in on yet. All the oldsters agreed to not post on any groin or jock thread until I've had my say. Someone let it slip to me a few years ago that this was going on, but I've been playing along for the fun of it. When you've been a member long enough, someone will officially tell you about it and all the other BBS traditions. (It's not up to me, though. I'm not a member of the Cabal.)

[puctrgt]

Timber, just link him to your homepage. He'll stop asking questions!

[flavio]

I think I'll try the Icy Hot to see if it helps. However, I have a question.

Since the pain goes away 10 minutes into the game, can I assume that I'm not suffering from a slight groin pull/strain? I'm trying to be extra careful since I've pulled it a couple of times in the past few years, and I don't want to go through it again. If it is a pulled groin, I don't want to mask the pain and then suffer a complete tear.

F.

[jabber_39]

This stuff was recommended by my wife's Chiropractor.

Works great, yet is relatively expensive, and not sold at retail. I find it on Ebay and at internet Chiropractic supply houses. You just have to make sure you get a fresh lot. It loses it's effectiveness as it get old ( > 1 year).

I swear by this stuff.

[punisher]

i swear with whipped cream in my groin to warm it up, the wife suggested it.

works so well.

pun.