Most pro and recreational athletes will have to deal with some aches, pain or other injuries over the years. Some injuries will require the care of a physician or another specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Choosing a provider is often one of the most difficult parts of dealing with an injury. These tips may help you decide who is right for you.

Over the counter sports creams containing salicylates as the main active ingredient are not effective and are, in fact, a waste of money. This is the conclusion of Oxford biochemist Andrew Moore, who lead a comprehensive review of all studies on the topic.

The review, published in the July Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found little evidence that over the counter sports creams, such as Aspercreme, Ben Gay and Icy Hot have any effect at all on muscle aches and pain when compared with a placebo (sham treatment).

So, What Does Work?

According to Moore, some topical local anesthetics work. Topical capsaicin works, and some topical NSAIDs work for strains and sprains.

What Do You Think?

Are Sports creams effective? Are they a waste of money?
Share your opinion about sports creams.

Also See:

• Over-the-counter pain medication
• Sports creams
• Newwise Story about the study results.

_Source

_{Matthews P, et al. Topical rubefacients for acute and chronic pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 3, 2009. [http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab007403.html].}

The most common golf injuries occur in the lower back, elbows, shoulders, hands and wrists and are generally defined as either cumulative (overuse) or acute (traumatic) injuries. Proper conditioning and swing mechanics can often prevent golf pain and injury as well as boost your golf game.

Prevent Golf Injuries and Improve Your Swing With:

• Prevent Golf Injuries: Conditioning and Swing Mechanics
• Conditioning Exercises for Improving Your Golf Game.

Golf.about.com offers a great "head-to-toe" golf stretching program and the latest equipment reviews.

The FDA announced a product recall for the energy drink products New Whey and Hardcore Energize Bullet because some of these products may have been tampered with.

Two small utility knife blades were found in the energy drinks which are sold in vials that look like test tubes. While no one was injured, the line of product has been recalled. If you have any of these products, return them to the place of purchase or toss them out. If you have any concerns with these two products, contact the FDA.

Learn More about Optimal Sports Nutrition in Sports Nutrition Basics - From Training to Competition