Why Battle Balm is the Best Medium For Sports Massage Therapists

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Massage Therapy Enhances Sports Performance
• The Perfect Massage Therapy Medium of Athletes
• How to Use Battle Balm for Sports Massage Therapy
• Conclusion
• Sports Massage Medium Frequently Asked Questions
• References

Introduction

Behind every great athlete is a great massage therapist. When ultimate performance is required, a great sports massage therapist helps unblock the two most important elements of human health: circulation and nervous system function. It's for these reasons that your favorite athlete can perform at the highest level every gameday.

A great massage medium (i.e. balm, oil, lotion, etc.) will assist the therapist in achieving their treatment goals. Additionally, a well designed massage medium will have clean ingredients, proper glide, and additional benefits over a standard lubricant. Read further to find out how Battle Balm hits all the marks as the go-to medium for sports massage therapists and athletes. 

Massage Therapy Enhances Sports Performance

Sports performance comes from a high level of neuromuscular control. Massage therapy is a great way to address both the neural aspect and the muscular aspect simultaneously. Massage can relax the muscles, increase blood and lymph flow, and reset the nervous system. Sports massage is used for, in no particular order: pain management, minor injury rehabilitation, muscular tightness/spasm, and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).⁽¹⁾ Aligning a powerful medium to the sports massage treatment plan can assist the therapist in considerably improving outcomes and speeding the overall healing mechanism. Below, we will give you 7 key reasons why Battle Balm has no equal when it comes to sports massage.

The Perfect Massage Therapy Medium of Athletes

I've worked with high level athletes most of my massage therapy career. During this time, I've applied my skillset to hundreds of professional athletes from a wide variety of sports. My athletes have always been so grateful for the huge part that massage therapy plays in enhancing their recovery and level of performance. They understand how valuable massage is to their health.

Choosing the right medium can make a significant difference in the speed in which the athlete returns to their sport. Battle Balm was born out of my clinical practice. Since then, it has emerged as a top choice among professionals for its unique blend of benefits, tailored to athletes and active individuals. Here's why Battle Balm stands out as the best medium for sports massage therapy.

1. Natural Ingredients for Optimal Healing

• One of the primary reasons Battle Balm excels is its commitment to using 100% natural and organic ingredients. Free from synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, and petroleum-based substances, Battle Balm harnesses the power of nature to promote healing. Ingredients like arnica, calendula, and frankincense are known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making them ideal for soothing sore muscles and joints.

2. Powerful Pain Relief

• Sports massage often targets areas of tension, discomfort, or injury. Battle Balm’s formula includes natural analgesics such as camphor, menthol⁽²⁾, and wintergreen, which work synergistically to provide deep and lasting pain relief. These components penetrate the skin to address pain at its source, making it easier for therapists to work on tight muscles and trigger points.

3. Improved Muscle Recovery

• Athletes rely on massage therapy not only for immediate relief but also for long-term recovery. Battle Balm’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and improve circulation, accelerating the healing process. Enhanced blood flow ensures that oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the muscles, aiding in faster recovery after intense physical activity.

4. Skin Strengthening and Support

• The all natural and organic ingredients of Battle Balm contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that support skin at the cellular level. Athletes who play contact sports understands the value of skin integrity. Using Battle Balm during a massage treatment will nourish the skin at the cellular level and protect skin function.

5. Antimicrobial & Antifungal

• Every athlete understands that gym germs are awful. A staph infection can keep an athlete off the playing field. In worse cases, skin microbes can become life-threatening. Any extra protection, especially for contact sports athletes, is hugely beneficial. Note that Battle Balm has been independently clinically tested per USP51 specifications to kill staph, strep, candida, E. coli, and Aspergillus N.

6. Versatility & Multi-Purpose Use

• Battle Balm isn’t just limited to massage therapy. It can be used under neoprene wraps. It can be also used with ice packs or heating pads. Plus, Its versatile formula makes it a go-to solution for various athletic treatments, such as cupping therapy, or gua sha (Graston Technique)⁽³⁾. Whether it’s applied as a pre-workout muscle warm-up, a post-workout recovery aid, or a remedy for minor skin irritations, Battle Balm proves its multifunctionality. This adaptability makes it a staple in the toolkit of any sports therapist or athlete.

7. Environmentally Conscious and Sustainable

• In an era where sustainability matters, Battle Balm takes the lead with eco-friendly practices. Our products use minimal packaging materials, so that less waste is produced. The packaging is recyclable, and the production process prioritizes sustainability, appealing to environmentally conscious therapists and clients alike.

How to Use Battle Balm For Sports Massage Therapy

Battle Balm comes in a format that makes for a minimally messy therapeutic experience for both the therapist and the athlete. No longer do athletes need to worry that massage oil will drip onto their athleisure wear or clothing. The balm stays put.

Use Battle Balm in place of any other massage medium. Just apply a thin layer of Battle Balm to the area that will be treated. A little bit will go a long way. If performing sliding cup therapy, make sure the balm covers the entire area to be cupped. For hairy or dry skin, the practitioner may need to apply a second layer of Battle Balm to the treated area before massage. After treatment, wipe any excess Battle Balm off of the skin using a slightly damp cloth or towel.

Conclusion

Sports massage has been used for centuries to address musculoskeletal pain and sports injury. Battle Balm offers an unparalleled combination of natural healing properties, effective pain relief, and superior usability. Its commitment to quality, sustainability, and versatility makes it the ultimate choice for both therapists and athletes. Whether you're addressing muscle tension, enhancing recovery, or simply providing a soothing massage experience, Battle Balm ensures optimal results every time.

For general use on athletes, our recommendation would be Battle Balm Extra Strength as it is our most versatile for both chronic and acute pain conditions.

For the most stubborn pain conditions, our recommendation would be to use the strongest version we offer, Battle Balm Demon Strength. 

Use Battle Balm Original Strength as a glide for general sports treatments (with or without manual therapy tools) Those with thin, sensitive skin would best start with Original Strength Battle Balm as well.

Sports Massage Therapy Medium Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about sports massage therapy and the products therapists use in practice. Drop us a line if you have other questions. We'd be happy to answer them!

What is a massage therapy medium?

A massage therapy medium refers to the substance, typically an oil, lotion, cream, gel, or balm, applied to the client's skin during a massage to reduce friction and allow the therapist's hands to glide smoothly over the body, facilitating the massage movements; essentially, it acts as a lubricant on the skin during the massage session.

What medium do therapists use for sports massage?

There are a whole host of products available for practitioners to use in sports massage. Many of these depend on the goal of the treatment. The most common mediums for massage therapy are: oil, gel, cream, lotion, or balm.

What is the difference between Battle Balm and other massage mediums?

If you didn't read the article, here's the lowdown or TL;DR.

• Battle Balm has natural ingredients so your immune system doesn't have to guess what it is.
• Battle Balm provides powerful, penetrating pain relief to complement the massage treatment.
• Battle Balm contains herbs that reduce swelling and inflammation to speed the healing process and boost muscle recovery.
• Battle Balm contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to strengthen and support skin health.
• Battle Balm is antimicrobial to prevent skin infections. It kills gym germs like staph and strep per USP51 specification.
• Battle Balm can be used as a pre-workout warmup, a sinus decongestant, a toenail fungus fighter, and more. Use Battle Balm with a hot pack or with ice to further stimulate the body's healing mechanism.
• Battle Balm is focused on a sustainable existence. We battle for the planet as much as we battle for you.

What types of massage can Battle Balm be used for?

Battle Balm is an excellent medium for sports massage, deep tissue massage, tui na massage, orthopedic massage, medical massage and physiotherapy. Battle Balm can be applied on most areas of the body. We recommend keeping Battle Balm away from the groin, armpits, and eyes.

What are the contraindications of Battle Balm as a sports massage medium?

We do not recommend using Battle Balm with open wounds. For those with thin, or sensitive skin, we do not recommend using our strongest balm, Demon Strength Battle Balm. 
After massage session, do not expose treated areas to direct sunlight for 1-2 hours.

Can Battle Balm be used on hairy skin?

Battle Balm is a great medium for hairy skin, but multiple applications of balm may be necessary for best results.

Why is Battle Balm the best massage medium for athletes?

Athletes want fast, effective pain relief during sports massage sessions. Battle Balm delivers legendary pain relief in a non-messy, easy-to-use format, for many different styles of massage therapy. Plus, athletes continue to benefit from Battle Balm's pain punching power long after they leave the treatment room.

References

1. Brummitt J. (2008). The role of massage in sports performance and rehabilitation: current evidence and future direction. North American journal of sports physical therapy : NAJSPT, 3(1), 7–21.

2. Pergolizzi JV Jr, Taylor R Jr, LeQuang JA, Raffa RB; NEMA Research Group. The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018 Jun;43(3):313-319. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12679. Epub 2018 Mar 10. PMID: 29524352.

3. Thomas Hyde, D. (n.d.). The GRASTON technique: An instrument assisted soft tissue manual therapy for back pain. Spine. https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/graston-technique-instrument-assisted-soft-tissue-manual-therapy-back-pain