Issue 154

May 2017

In an age when cutting-edge sports science and information technology have flooded the fitness industry, it’s tough to know what equipment or supplements are your best allies for tackling an injury.

Do things like hyperbaric chambers and magnesium baths really aid with recovery? Or are mixed martial arts athletes clutching at straws in an age of overwhelming options and information?

They might be better off with something tried and tested – solutions that have been used for decades. There’s a reason these old-fashioned recovery aids are still being used today: they work.

These are some of fight sports’ staple injuries and the retro techniques that can aid recovery from them.

BRUISES

Long before professional prize-fighting existed, Native Americans would use the arnica plant to heal bruises and inflammation.

The plant grows naturally in the US and Europe and is still used to accelerate the healing process today. Research at the University of Maryland discovered it’s extremely effective if you eat it or rub it on the bruised area a couple of times through the day.

But if you don’t have arnica growing wild near you, then there’s a much simpler and widely available option: ice. The cold helps to reduce swelling and constricts the capillaries near the surface of your skin, which restricts blood flow and reduces the amount of blood that’s released from them.

ACHES SPRAINS AND STRAINS

We’ve all tapped out too late and suffered for it or paid the price for a substandard warm-up by pulling a muscle, but there’s a 2,000-year-old herb that’s got your back.

Comfrey has been used to treat inflammation, bruises and fractures for centuries.

The ancient Greeks claimed it was a gift from the Garden of Eden. It’s easy to grow or and find, then simply mash up a few leaves, apply the paste to the damaged area, then bandage it up and leave the elixir overnight to work its old-time magic.

CUTS AND BURNS

Few natural ingredients are as rich in recovery qualities as honey, which has been used as a human healer for more than 8,000 years.

Research published in the journal Microbiology discovered that manuka honey is perfect for fighting against antibiotic-resistant bacteria when applied directly to wounds.

And if you think about how most MMA cuts and burns occur – on sweat-drenched mats, rings and cages – honey may well be the number one sparring partner for any fighter. Rub over any wound, cover with a plaster or bandage and let Mother Nature’s nectar take over.

ROLLED ANKLES

If you’re someone who’s dogged by ankle sprains and is forever twisting one when running, there’s a simple solution that’s so old school it’s now being considered new school.

Barefoot running is the easiest way to avoid repeated running-related injuries for athletes that can’t overcome them through rehab, according to research into rolled ankles published in The Journal of Injury Function And Rehabilitation. It found running in sneakers actually put more stress on the knees and ankles compared to running barefoot.

BLACK EYES

We’ve all seen the black and white movies where the busted-up pugilist is thrown a 16oz ribeye to put on a bruised eye.

In reality, you’d be better off eating a steak than compressing with it. Once cooked, its zinc and protein actually accelerate healing.

If you’re still looking for something to add directly to the wound, order a salad to find a true black eye buster. Applying cucumber directly to the bruised area for 20 minutes – try grated rather than sliced – is a great natural healer as it’s rich in super healers silica and potassium.

SCARS

After wounds have healed, it’s not unusual to be left with an unsightly red blotch or scar on the skin that can stick around for months.

Chemists will offer all kinds of chemical bleaches and other naturally damaging products to remedy the problem, but there’s a far gentler and cost-effective option that’s been used for donkey’s years.

Yogurt is rich in zinc, calcium, B vitamins and protein – all the ingredients you need to regenerate healthy skin cells.

Just rub it directly onto the affected area and leave for 10 minutes. It will nourish the skin and act as a mild bleaching agent to TKO residual redness.