The European Tour has, for the past 12 months, been involved in a study of a revolutionary new muscular pain relieving therapy, ThermaCare, which assists golfers in the treatment of golf-related injuries.
Heat and cold therapies are used regularly to relieve muscle spasm, but traditional heat treatments have not always been user-friendly requiring visits to a doctor/physiotherapist (e.g. infra-red lamps) or/and .restricting movements (e.g. hot water bottles). ThermaCare is a pain relieving heat therapy that is wearable. A wearable source of topical heat has many advantages i.e. continuous application of heat, preserved mobility and reduced time needed with a health practitioner.
ThermaCare is available in two forms: wraps or patches that can be worn under normal clothes and preserve mobility. It is designed to conform to the body where it hurts most and provides an effective low level continues heat that lasts up to eight hours as the heat penetrates deep into the muscle.
A total of 34 European Tour Members have taken part in the extensive study which was designed in collaboration with Dr. Elena Lurie-Luke (P&G Health Sciences Institute) and Guy de la Cave (the Tour’s Nestlé Physiotherapy Unit). Participants in this study were asked to use the product and to complete two questionnaires with self report measurements. The results indicate that the scientifically developed product has had significant benefits to golfers who suffer from muscular pain.
The majority of the study participants used a combination of different treatments. The most often used treatment was physiotherapy (64%), followed by massage (47%), OTC oral analgesics (44%) and prescription oral analgesics (20%) in fourth place.
There was improvement in all eight parameters describing key daily activities with the biggest impact on the most severely affected parameters, twisting followed by ability to perform and ability to swing. Golfers noticed improved benefits in the swing, bending, twisting and confidence with 19 out of 34 reporting an easier warm up than expected.
Golfers noticed the benefits of the heatwrap therapy in three main areas 1) warm up (easier and shorter warm up periods); 2) post-injury period (quicker recovery time and increased tolerance to pain) and 3) mobility (increased mobility). These were consistent with the situation where golfers thought the use of ThermaCare could be beneficial:
Early in the day, prior to warm up
During the recovery from injury
During/Between warm-up and stretching
During travel (while on plane or bus)
Guy de la Cave, Director of the Nestlé Physiotherpay Unit on The European Tour, said: “We are delighted with the quality and effectiveness of the product. In the beginning we were naturally careful in the distribution of ThermaCare but as the players reported the results to us then we have been more confident in recommending its use, following our initial diagnosis of the problem.
“We are now convinced as to the quality of ThermaCare, which helps areas in which golfers suffer a lot of stress, such as the lower back muscles, neck, shoulders and shoulder blades. ThermaCare is especially effective in wet and cold conditions as it keeps the affected area warm for up to eight hours, or in some cases a lot longer, according to some players I have talked to.”
Australian professional Peter Fowler has been a regular user of ThermaCare since the start of the study and said: “I have found the product extremely effective and have used it of many occasions before playing, particularly in unpleasant and cold conditions. The ThermaCare wrap warms up the painful areas and makes playing golf a lot more comfortable.”
Eduardo Romero, the 2002 Barclays Scottish Open champion from Argentina, is another golfer deeply enarmoured with the properties of ThermaCare. He commented: “I often use the product to relieve the pain in my lower back and there is no question it has helped ease the discomfort on the golf course.”
