If you’re dealing with a painful sprain or strain, a two-pronged attack may be your best option: Using ice and menthol gel together nearly doubles the treatment punch, finds a new study in the Journal of Athletic Training.
Used alone, either remedy for soft-tissue injury—ice or a Bengay-type gel—reduced bloodflow to the injury site by about 25 percent, easing inflammation and swelling. Used in combination, however, they suppressed bloodflow by 39 percent.
So for an ankle sprain or muscle strain, try doing this: Apply a menthol gel, cover the area with plastic wrap, and then place a bag of ice over the area for 20 minutes.
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