Cryotherapy, more commonly known as icing, has long been considered the gold standard for dealing with inflammation, including the muscle inflammation that occurs following strenuous exercise. However, research has now clearly shown that when cryotherapy and red light therapy are compared to see which one works better to support exercise recovery, red light therapy consistently comes out on top.
Many studies have assessed what happens to sports performance when red and/or near infrared light is applied to muscles. Protocols usually apply red light to muscles prior to exercise – which is called muscular preconditioning. Another approach is to apply light after, rather than before, a sporting event, to support the muscle as it recovers so that it is stronger and more efficient during subsequent exercise.
A recent systematic review compiled and analyzed several clinical trials looking at red light therapy and sports performance and found many positive results, including decreased markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as creatine kinase, which is found in muscle cells and is released when cells are damaged. There are several ways in which red light therapy can be used to support exercise recovery, as laid out in this article.
Our Medco Sales Representatives have a vast knowledge of the products needed by those who work in sports medicine through their educational and clinical experience, their work in partnering and collaborating with you, as well as their robust product training. Several of our reps also have experience as athletic trainers, so they know exactly what it is you do and need. We’re putting all that knowledge into one place in this article, giving you their top recommendations, based on their interactions out in the field.
We asked the whole team the same questions; while some answers are similar, the perspectives this team bring are rich and diverse. Read on to find out what products they find themselves discussing the most!
From the innovation-driven medical technology company, Enovis by Chattanooga, the latest improvement to electrotherapy is now available at Medco Athletics. The Intelect® Legend 2 and Intelect® Transport 2 are the recent iterations of trusted electrotherapy devices athletic trainers are looking to add to their facilities. Better than ever, these two devices provide improved therapeutic outcomes for athletes while acting as an efficient tool to supplement your treatment.
Medco has partnered with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) and Gatorade to recognize and support high school athletic training nationwide. The primary way in which this is achieved is through the annual Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year Award, facilitated by PBATS; the 2023 winners have been announced and given the opportunity to give back to their communities.
This year’s National Athletic Trainers’ Association theme for 2024 is Athletic Training “From Head to Toe”. NATA continues to spotlight the important work of athletic trainers during National Athletic Training Month (NATM) each March. As a sports medicine supplier, it's important to help recognize and spread awareness about the importance of athletic training as well as share the ways we help support ATs .
This year’s Medco 2024-25 catalog featured sports medicine team brought us to the sunny West Coast just outside of Anaheim, California, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Fullerton College, established in 1913, is a junior college that has 22 sports on their roster, bringing young athletes from all over the country with big dreams for their athletic careers.
THERABAND® has always been considered the industry leader for resistance bands, and they now have the testing to prove it. After extensive third-party testing, THERABAND non-latex resistance bands have been proven to last more than five times longer than the next leading competitor, and the Trusted Progression System® has proven to have consistent pull force.
