Sport heating cream: is it really useful for bodybuilding?

Many athletes use a heating cream for sports before doing any physical activity. In the form of gel or ointment, it allows to better prepare the muscles during exercise. The heating creams also have properties analgesics to relieve muscle pain. Discover in this article the best heating creams for your sports activity.

The benefits of heating creams

A good preparation for the effort

As its name indicates, a sport heating cream allows to warm up the muscles before a sport effort.

An exercise cream should contain only natural ingredients. Otherwise, you risk damaging your skin and your health.

The ingredients of a warming cream vary depending on the product. There may be capsaicin, camphor, cajeput, propylene glycol, clove or eucalyptus essential oils.

Using a warming ointment before exercising helps to prepare the muscles and the skin for the joints.

The heat caused by the massage of the cream on the skin leads to a phenomenon of vasodilation. The diameter of the blood vessels increases, which improves the blood circulation and performance.

It also helps muscles and tendons to become more flexible. They are thus more resistant during physical activity. In addition, the toxins produced during the effort are eliminated more easily. The muscle recovery after training is then faster. In this sense, a heating cream for sports prevents muscle fatigue, especially the appearance of cramps.

An analgesic effect

But the creams and heating gels also have analgesic properties. These products can be used to soothe muscle tensions and joints, whether it be aches and painscontractures or tendonitis.

The fact of massaging the painful area brings a pleasant feeling of warmth. For example, if you suffer from back painThe application of the cream on the sensitive part of your body will instantly bring a feeling of relaxation and well-being.

Of course, the use of a massage cream does not act on the cause of the problem. It only relieves the pain. It does not replace the need to consult a health professional to diagnose the origin of the injury and treat it.

What is the best heating cream for sports?

The most common muscle warming ointment used by athletes is undoubtedly the tiger balm.

Developed in the 19th century by a Chinese doctor, Tiger Balm is made exclusively from natural products. There are two varieties:

• the white tiger balm,
• the red tiger balm.

The red tiger balm is the one that should be used in the context of a sport practice. To learn more, I invite you to consult this complete article on the usefulness of Tiger Balm in weight training.

You can also opt for a more traditional pre-workout ointment. It is very easy to find a heating cream for sports in pharmacies or on specialized websites.

The heating cream is of excellent quality. It's a soothing gel with a warming effect. Like Tiger Balm, it immediately produces a sensation of warmth on the body part being treated.

How to use a heating balm?

In addition to the bodybuildersMany athletes regularly use a warming cream before exercise, whether during training or competitions. This is particularly the case for soccer, rugby and handball players, as well as combat sports (MMA, boxing, karate, etc.), running and tennis players.

Simply apply the heating cream to the area of the body you wish to heat. This could be a tight or sore muscle. Massage your skin vigorously to allow the ointment to penetrate.

Such a product can therefore be used for a few minutes before a physical effort. Remember to wash your hands well after applying the cream and avoid contact with your eyes.

Please note that the use of a sports heating cream does not in any way replace your usual warm-up. It simply allows you to optimize your preparation for the effort.

A muscular warm-up is still essential to gradually increase your body heat and heart rate. In weight training, 15 to 20 minutes should allow you to solicit all the muscle groups that will then be worked during the training session.

Conclusion

The heating cream for sports is an interesting product insofar as it improves the effectiveness of your muscle warm-up. However, you should choose natural products that are completely free of chemicals. But whether in bodybuilding or in other sports activities, your physical warm-up must remain the central element of your preparation for exercise.