Ointment from bruises for athletes

Injuries, sprains, bruises, unfortunately, are an integral part of the activities of both professional athletes and those involved in sports to maintain a general tone and adhere to a healthy lifestyle. In the treatment of such injuries of the musculoskeletal system, ointment from bruises for athletes can help, which, depending on the type of injury, can be: 

1. Anti-inflammatory ointments with bruises.
2. Cooling ointments from bruises.
3. Hyperemic, warming ointment.

Puffiness, pain, bruises or bruises are a result of traumatization of soft tissues, ligamentous tendon apparatus, damage and rupture of small vessels. With a bruise, the circulation of blood in the joint tissues is rapidly developing, if limbs are damaged, hemarthrosis (intraarticular bleeding) is possible. In such cases, an ointment from bruises for athletes helps to anesthetize an injury, remove a local inflammatory process, activate resorption, reduce the rate of edema development, improve the nutrition of damaged tissues and accelerate their regeneration, recovery.

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Indications for use

Ointment from bruises for athletes is not a specific tool that is used only in sports medicine. Indications for the use of ointments with anti-inflammatory, cooling or warming action: 

• Arthritis.
• Polyarthritis.
• Neuritis.
• Radiculitis.
• Plexitis.
• Injuries of closed type, including bruises.
• Thrombophlebitis.
• Hemorrhoidal nodes (heparin ointment).
• Periphlebitis.
• Mastitis (superficial).
• Lymphangitis.
• Infiltrates.
• Swelling of soft tissues and joints.
• Stretching of tendons, ligaments.
• Hematoma.
• Gout.
• Bechterew's disease.
• Myalgia, myositis.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Lumbago, sciatica.
• Osteochondrosis.

A list of ointments, creams and gels that are used in the treatment of injuries in athletes

• Voltaren gel (emulgel). The active ingredient is diclofenac, which is an anti-inflammatory substance that removes the symptoms of the local inflammatory process in the area of the injury.
• Bystrumgel with ketoprofen. Removes signs of inflammation with closed injuries, as well as with arthritis, lumbago, flebitis, sprains, dislocations, tendinitis.
• Heparin ointment is an anticoagulant that prevents the development of a hematoma, which reduces the rate of thrombus formation.
• Diclofenac gel, ointment - an anti-inflammatory drug that relieves pain, providing relief of local inflammation.
• Deep Relief with ibuprofen, helping with bruises, myalgia, myositis, sprains, arthritis.
• Dolobene with heparin, dexpanthenol and dimethylsulfoxide. Has analgesic, anti-edematous effect, relieves inflammation.
• Dolgit with ibuprofen, relieves swelling, pain, improves trophic tissue.
• Dexpanthenol is indicated for extensive hematomas developing with bruises. Significantly alleviates the symptoms of tendovaginitis, sprain, tendons.
• Ichthyol ointment is one of the most popular remedies. The drug has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, healing effect.
• Indomethacin anesthetizes, relieves the symptoms of inflammation, swelling with bruises.
• Indovazin with troxevasin and indomethacin improves the condition of small vessels, has an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Lidocaine ointment is an active anesthetic drug that quickly removes pain from injuries and bruises of athletes.
• Ketonal, ketoprofen - relieves pain, inflammation.
• Nase gel with nimesulide. Provides a local anesthetic, improving the trophism of tissues action.
• Myoton with essential oils and herbal extracts. A mild drug that improves blood microcirculation, anesthetizes and relieves swelling.
• Fastum gel is a popular drug that effectively helps to relieve the symptoms of sprains, bruises, arthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
• Finalgon has a pronounced irritant effect, activates the bloodstream at the site of injury, relieves pain.
• Flexall is a popular ointment used in sports medicine. Anesthetizes, relieves inflammation.
• Espel anesthetizes due to a distracting effect on the skin receptors.

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Pharmacodynamics ointments from bruises for athletes

Pharmacodynamics of external drugs is due to the action of the main active substance and can be as follows: 

• Salicylate (methyl salicylate) belongs to the category of salicylic acid. Pharmacodynamics of ointments with methyl salicylate is associated with the high capacity of the component of inhibition of the function of cyclooxygenase, the main component, the enzyme that connects, binds inflammatory lipid substances - prostaglandins.
• Ketoprofen as a derivative of aryl carboxylic acid has an inhibitory action aimed at inhibiting cyclooxygenase, and acts like salicylates.
• Diclofenac - blocks the production of many biologically active substances - inflammatory mediators, as well as salicylates, ketoprofen, inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway of prostaglandin synthesis and is able to suppress the production of platelets.
• Indomethacin as a methylindoleacetic acid derivative is an active reversible inhibitor of cyclooxygenase.
• Heparin - a highly active glycosaminoglycan, a direct anticoagulant, helps slow down the process of blood coagulability. It blocks the synthesis of thrombins, reduces the rate of their gluing (aggregation).

Pharmacokinetics

The properties of absorption and excretion of ointment dosage forms are characterized by a neutral effect on internal organs and systems. The pharmacokinetics of ointments that are used in the treatment of bruises are due to the slow absorption, the concentration of active active substance in the area of injury. If the ointment is applied locally, as expected, the traces of the main component in the blood plasma are insignificant, and in the future they are transformed into metabolites, which are excreted by the kidney. Less often, the components of the ointment are metabolized into complexes with liver cells, but are also excreted by the kidneys.

Ointment from joint bruises

Any damage, bruise of the joint requires accurate diagnosis, most often the nature of the injury is determined by radiography, it is needed to avoid dislocation or fracture. Symptoms of moderate and mild severity are characterized by local inflammation, fast edema, hemorrhage into the subcutaneous tissue, and rarely - hemarthrosis. Quite often a bruise leads to a restriction of joint mobility and this is a kind of compensatory phenomenon on the part of the body, trying to maximally immobilize the limb.

Ointment from bruises of joints is applied only on 2 or 3-1 days after injury, first aid should consist of such actions: 

• Imposition of cold, cold compress.
• Immobilization of the damaged joint (immobilization, bandage with elastic material).
• The use of external medicines, such as ointment from joint bruises.

Such measures help reduce the rate of imbibition, internal hemorrhage into soft and joint tissues, reduce hematoma development and possibly neutralize intraarticular bleeding.

We give a brief description of external drugs, which are applied 1-2 days after the injury. 

1. Ointments containing NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs help to remove the local inflammatory process due to the active substances they contain:
   • Methyl ester of salicylic acid or methyl salicylate. This component is included in most ointments used as external medicines for relief of the symptoms of traumatic inflammation of soft tissues and subcutaneous tissue.
   • Diclofenac is a derivative of acetic acid, a substance possessing the chondrojetral property, which removes the symptoms of inflammation.
   • Benzoyl-phenylpropionic acid is ketoprofen, which stops the synthesis of mediators of the inflammatory process.
   • Isobutylphenio propionic acid or ibuprofen, similar in effect to ketoprofen and diclofenac. The substance inhibits the development of inflammation in the soft and articular tissues.
2. Hyperemic, warming ointments that have a warming, stimulating blood circulation and nutrition of tissues by action due to such active components:
   • Apitoxin or bee venom, which contains active biological components. Apitoxin due to irritation of the nerve endings of the skin helps to increase blood flow in the subcutaneous tissue, remove puffiness and restore trophic tissue.
   • Snake venom is very similar in effect to apitoxin, but is more active, so ointments with snake venom have other components controlling its intensity and side effects.
3. Cooling ointments that can be used for joint injuries as early as the second day after injury, replacing cooling compresses. The external preparations include such components:
   • Menthol - causes local irritation of skin receptors, accompanied by a cooling effect. This contributes to the neutralization of puffiness due to distracting action, anesthetizes the place of injury.
   • Camphor is a ketone that refers to terpenes (terpenoids). The substance is able to stimulate the nerve endings, causing the effect of local irritation. The sensation of cold or heat depends on the concentration of camphor in the ointment.
4. Degradable ointments. These drugs, the basis of which - heparin, an active anticoagulant, helps to reduce thrombosis and improve the rheological parameters of the blood.

How to apply ointment from bruises to athletes?

With bruises ointment should be used no more than 5-7 days, if after the expiration of this period the symptoms of trauma do not subside, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a detailed diagnosis, excluding more serious injuries.

The way of application and dose depends on the amount of soft tissue damage, but, as a rule, the drug is applied in a thin strip 5-7 centimeters 2-4 times a day. Many drugs in the gel form are well absorbed into the skin, so they should not be rubbed intensively to avoid additional trauma to the tissues. Heated ointments, on the contrary, are applied by massaging, rubbing movements.

In general, the method, the course of treatment is determined by the severity of the injury, but usually the right ointment helps remove the symptoms of damage already on the second day. The main recovery of trophic and blood supply occurs after 5-7 days, at the same time, edema and bruises begin to decrease.

Use during pregnancy

The only ointment that can be used in pregnancy as a relatively safe means of treating contusions is a heparin ointment. It should be noted that athletes who are in an "interesting position" often continue training, although this is dangerous for the health of the future mother, and can lead to threats of fetal development. If the trauma has occurred and is diagnosed as a bruise, closed soft tissue damage, it is necessary to see a doctor, get a diagnosis, exclude more serious conditions - dislocation, fracture, stretching, and get a professional recommendation for relief of symptoms. Ointments with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), many cooling and especially hyperemic ointments are categorically contraindicated during gestation. Use during pregnancy of any drug, in tableted or ointment form, should be controlled by the attending physician.

Contraindications for use

All external means for treating contusions may have contraindications to the use. Most often this concerns the integrity of the skin. Ointment should be applied only to the skin undamaged by wounds, sores, any cut can provoke the attachment of a secondary infection and complicate the process of restoring soft tissues.

Contraindications to the use of external means for the treatment of bruises: 

• Wounds, scratches, cuts.
• Dermatitis.
• Rash, vesicles.
• Individual intolerance to the components of the ointment.
• The allergy in the anamnesis.
• Purulent inflammation of the skin.
• Trophic ulcers.
• With caution in exacerbating kidney and liver diseases.
• Heparin ointment is not used for increased bleeding.

Side effects

Most often, the side effects of external means for the treatment of bruises are associated with an allergic reaction. Symptoms of a local allergy: 

• Itching.
• Developing edema at the site of ointment application.
• Hives, rash.
• It is extremely rare - angioedema.

Especially careful should be when using the ointment during pregnancy, when a woman's body is vulnerable to any active ingredient.

If, after using the ointment, atypical manifestations on the skin are noticeable, immediately remove the ointment with a cotton cloth or tissue and stop applying it in the future. The replacement of an external preparation can be made by a doctor who will choose an adequate ointment that does not cause side effects.

Overdose

Overdose of the ointment form of the drug is practically not found, at least in the medical literature such phenomena are not described. To exclude even the slightest possibility of an overdose, ointment should be applied according to the doctor's recommendation or following the instructions.

Interactions with other drugs

The most active components are considered NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it is this interaction with other drugs that can provoke side effects and even complications. Therefore, ointments containing NSAIDs should not be used in conjunction with other external agents. It can also cause an undesirable effect of heparin ointment, which enhances the coagulating effect of antiaggregants, thrombolytic agents in tableted form. Do not combine ointments that include tetracycline and cooling components or heparin, poorly combined antihistamine external preparations and ointments with NSAIDs.

Storage conditions and shelf life

Ointments are stored according to the rules indicated on the package. As a rule, external means are stored in a dry place, far from direct sunlight and at a temperature not exceeding 15-20 degrees Celsius. Do not store the ointment in the refrigerator, if it does not require a special item in the instructions. Coldness, just as a fever can disrupt the consistency of the drug and its active ingredients will lose their effectiveness.

Shelf life of ointments does not exceed 3 years, gels can be used for 2 years. If the expiration date has expired, the drug must be disposed of and not used for further treatment. Overdue ointment from bruising can cause unwanted allergic reactions or simply not have the proper effect on the injury.

Ointment from bruises for athletes is one of the remedies that helps to curtail the symptoms of damage to soft tissues or joints. Properly selected medication has a quick effect, allows athletes to regain their old form and return to training or competition.