Contusion ointment for athletes

Traumas, sprains, bruises, unfortunately, are an integral part of the activities of both professional athletes and those who play sports to maintain overall tone and adhere to a healthy lifestyle. In the treatment of such injuries to the musculoskeletal system, an ointment for bruises for athletes can help, which, depending on the type of injury, can be as follows:

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

Swelling, pain, bruises or hematomas are the result of injury to soft tissues, the ligament-tendon apparatus, damage and rupture of small vessels. With a bruise, a circulatory disorder in the joint tissues rapidly develops; if the limbs are damaged, hemarthrosis (intra-articular bleeding) is possible. In such cases, an ointment for bruises for athletes helps to relieve pain from the injury, relieve local inflammation, activate resorption, reduce the rate of edema development, improve the nutrition of damaged tissues and accelerate their regeneration and recovery.

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Indications for use

Bruise ointment for athletes is not a specific remedy that is used only in sports medicine. Indications for the use of ointments with anti-inflammatory, cooling or warming effects:

• Arthritis.
• Polyarthritis.
• Neuritis.
• Radiculitis.
• Plexitis.
• Closed-type injuries, including bruises.
• Thrombophlebitis.
• Hemorrhoids (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.

List of ointments, creams and gels used in the treatment of bruises in athletes

• Voltaren gel (emulgel). The active component is diclofenac, which is an anti-inflammatory substance that relieves symptoms of local inflammation in the area of the bruise.
• Bystrumgel with ketoprofen. Relieves signs of inflammation in closed-type injuries, as well as arthritis, lumbago, phlebitis, sprains, dislocations, tendonitis.
• Heparin ointment is an anticoagulant that prevents the development of hematoma and reduces the rate of thrombus formation.
• Diclofenac gel, ointment - anti-inflammatory agent that relieves pain and provides relief of local inflammation.
• Deep Relief with ibuprofen, helps with bruises, myalgia, myositis, sprains, arthritis.
• Dolobene with heparin, dexpanthenol and dimethyl sulfoxide. Has an analgesic, anti-edematous effect, relieves inflammation.
• Dolgit with ibuprofen relieves swelling, pain, improves tissue trophism.
• Dexpanthenol - indicated for extensive hematomas that develop with bruises. Significantly alleviates the symptoms of tendovaginitis, sprains, tendons.
• Ichthyol ointment is one of the most popular remedies. The drug has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, healing effect.
• Indomethacin relieves pain, relieves symptoms of inflammation and swelling in bruises.
• Indovazin with troxevasin and indomethacin improves the condition of small vessels and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Lidocaine ointment is an active painkiller that quickly relieves pain from injuries and bruises in athletes.
• Ketonal, ketoprofen – relieves pain and inflammation.
• Nise gel with nimesulide. Provides local anesthetic, improving tissue trophism effect.
• Myoton with essential oils and plant extracts. A soft preparation that improves blood microcirculation, relieves pain and reduces swelling.
• Fastum gel is a popular drug that effectively helps relieve symptoms of sprains, bruises, arthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
• Finalgon has a pronounced irritating effect, activates blood flow at the site of injury, and relieves pain.
• Flexall is a popular ointment used in sports medicine. It relieves pain and inflammation.
• Espole relieves pain by distracting the skin receptors.

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Pharmacodynamics of ointment for bruises for athletes

The pharmacodynamics of external medicinal products is determined by the action of the main active substance and can be as follows:

• Salicylate (methyl salicylate) belongs to the category of salicylic acid. Pharmacodynamics of ointment with methyl salicylate is associated with the high ability of the component to inhibit the function of cyclooxygenase - the main component, the enzyme that connects, binds inflammatory lipid substances - prostaglandins.
• Ketoprofen, as an arylcarboxylic acid derivative, has an inhibitory effect aimed at inhibiting cyclooxygenase and acts similarly to salicylates.
• Diclofenac blocks the production of many biologically active substances - inflammation mediators, just like salicylates, ketoprofen, inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway of prostaglandin synthesis and is able to suppress platelet production.
• Indomethacin, as a derivative of methylindoleacetic acid, is an active reversible inhibitor of cyclooxygenase.
• Heparin is a highly active glycosaminoglycan, a direct anticoagulant, which helps slow down the blood clotting process. It blocks the synthesis of thrombins, reduces the rate of their adhesion (aggregation).

Pharmacokinetics

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

Ointment for joint bruises

Any injury, bruise of the joint requires precise diagnostics, most often the nature of the injury is determined by X-ray, it is needed to exclude dislocation or fracture. Symptoms of moderate and mild injury are characterized by local inflammation, rapidly developing swelling, hemorrhage into the subcutaneous tissue, less often - hemarthrosis. Quite often, a bruise leads to limited mobility of the joint and this is a kind of compensatory phenomenon on the part of the body, trying to immobilize the limb as much as possible.

Ointment for joint bruises is used only 2 or 3-1 days after the injury, first aid should consist of the following actions:

• Application of cold, cold compress.
• Immobilization of the damaged joint (immobilization, bandaging with elastic material).
• Use of external medications such as ointment for joint bruises.

Such measures help to reduce the rate of imbibition, internal bleeding into soft and joint tissues, reduce the development of hematoma and possibly neutralize intra-articular bleeding.

Here is a brief description of external preparations that are used 1-2 days after the injury.

1. Ointments containing NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs help relieve local inflammation 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 medications to relieve the symptoms of traumatic inflammation of soft tissues and subcutaneous tissue.
   • Diclofenac is a substance derived from acetic acid that has chondroneutral properties and relieves symptoms of inflammation.
   • Benzoylphenylpropionic acid – ketoprofen, which inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory mediators.
   • Isobutylphenio propionic acid or ibuprofen, similar in action to ketoprofen and diclofenac. The substance inhibits the development of inflammation in soft and joint tissues.
2. Hyperemic, warming ointments, which have a warming, stimulating blood circulation and tissue nutrition effect due to the following 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, relieve swelling and restore tissue trophism.
   • Snake venom is very similar in action to apitoxin, but is more active, so ointments with snake venom contain other components that control its intensity and side effects.
3. Cooling ointments that can be used for joint bruises as early as the second day after the injury, replacing cooling compresses. External preparations include the following components:
   • Menthol – causes local irritation of skin receptors, accompanied by a cooling effect. This helps to neutralize swelling due to the distracting effect, and anesthetizes the injury site.
   • Camphor is a ketone that belongs to terpenes (terpenoids). The substance is capable of stimulating nerve endings, causing a local irritant effect. The sensation of cold or heat depends on the concentration of camphor in the ointment.
4. Absorbent ointments. These are preparations based on heparin, an active anticoagulant that helps reduce thrombus formation and improve blood rheology.

How to use ointment for bruises for athletes?

In case of bruises, the ointment should be used for no more than 5-7 days. If after this period the symptoms of the injury do not subside, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a detailed diagnosis to rule out more serious injuries.

The method of application and dosage depend on the extent of soft tissue damage, but, as a rule, the product is applied in a thin strip of 5-7 centimeters 2-4 times a day. Many preparations in gel form are well absorbed into the skin, so they should not be rubbed in intensively to avoid additional tissue injury. Warming ointments, on the contrary, are applied with massaging, rubbing movements.

In general, the method and course of treatment are determined by the severity of the injury, but usually a properly selected ointment helps relieve the symptoms of injury on the second day. The main restoration of trophism and blood supply occurs after 5-7 days, during the same period, swelling and bruises begin to decrease.

Use during pregnancy

The only ointment that can be used during pregnancy as a relatively safe means of treating bruises is heparin ointment. It should be noted that athletes who are in an "interesting position" quite often continue training, although this is dangerous for the health of the expectant mother herself, and can entail threats to the development of the fetus. If an injury does occur and is diagnosed as a bruise, closed damage to soft tissues, you must consult a doctor, undergo diagnostics, exclude more serious conditions - dislocation, fracture, stretching, and get professional advice on relieving symptoms. Ointments with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), many cooling and especially hyperemic ointments are strictly contraindicated during gestation. The use of any drug during pregnancy, in tablet or ointment form, should be supervised by the attending physician.

Contraindications for use

All external means for treating bruises may have contraindications for use. Most often, this concerns the integrity of the skin. The ointment should be applied only to skin that is not damaged by wounds or abrasions; any cut can provoke a secondary infection and complicate the process of restoring soft tissues.

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

• Wounds, scratches, cuts.
• Dermatitis.
• Rash, vesicles.
• Individual intolerance to the components of the ointment.
• History of allergies.
• Purulent inflammatory process on the skin.
• Trophic ulcers.
• Use with caution in case of exacerbation of kidney and liver diseases.
• Heparin ointment is not used in case of increased bleeding.

Side effects

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

• Itching.
• Developing swelling at the site of application of the ointment.
• Hives, rash.
• Extremely rare – Quincke’s edema.

Particular caution should be exercised when using the ointment form during pregnancy, when the woman's body is vulnerable to any active ingredient.

If after applying the ointment, atypical manifestations on the skin are noticeable, the ointment should be immediately removed with a cotton cloth or napkin and its further application should be stopped. The external preparation can be replaced by a doctor who will select an adequate ointment that does not cause side effects.

Overdose

Overdose of the ointment form of the drug is almost never encountered, at least such phenomena are not described in medical literature. To exclude even the slightest possibility of overdose, the ointment should be applied according to the doctor's recommendation or following the instructions.

Interactions with other drugs

The most active components are 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 combination with other external agents. Heparin ointment, which enhances the coagulating effect of antiplatelet agents, thrombolytics in tablet form, can also cause an undesirable effect. Ointments containing tetracycline and cooling components or heparin should not be combined; antihistamine external drugs and ointments with NSAIDs do not mix well.

Storage conditions and shelf life

Ointments are stored according to the rules specified on the packaging. As a rule, external agents are stored in a dry room, away from direct sunlight and at a temperature not exceeding 15-20 degrees Celsius. Ointments should not be stored in the refrigerator unless specifically required by the instructions. Cold, as well as high temperatures, can disrupt the consistency of the drug and its active components will lose their effectiveness.

The 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. An expired ointment for bruises can cause unwanted allergic reactions or simply not have the desired effect on the injury.

Bruise ointment for athletes is one of the means that helps relieve symptoms of soft tissue or joint damage. A properly selected drug has a quick effect, allowing athletes to regain their previous form and return to training or competitions.