Regardless of age, everyone experiences workout-related muscle aches and pains at some point. Topical muscle creams use pain-relieving ingredients from menthol to CBD that can help provide immediate relief to sprains, strains, sore muscles, joint pain, or bruising. Additionally, massaging the cream into the skin promotes blood flow to further soothe and relax sore muscles.
When choosing a cream, there are several factors to keep in mind. Certain pain-relieving creams offer cooling and warming sensations, which some may find adds additional relief, but others may find too intense. Additionally, several pain-relieving muscle creams have a strong scent that some may find relaxing, while others may find it overwhelming.
These are a few popular brands to help you determine the best pain relief cream for you.
Topical Pain Relief and Arthritis Cream
Icy Hot Medicated Cream
This cream offers relief from chronic back, joint, shoulder, and knee pain and alleviates sore muscles. The fast-acting formula is non-greasy and starts working on contact. It first delivers icy coolness to dull the pain and then provides gentle heat to relieve aching muscles for long-lasting comfort.
Instaflex Cream
This pain relief muscle cream has been clinically studied to bring you double the soothing pain relief of comparable products. Its soothing menthol targets the source of the pain to ease soreness and improve mobility. It has a pleasant citrus scent and a non-greasy, easy to apply formula.
Bengay Ultra Strength Cream
This cream uses three pain-relieving ingredients, camphor, menthol, and methyl salicylate, to deeply penetrate target areas. It treats minor pains associated with arthritis, backaches, muscle and joint strains, sprains, and bruises.
Anti-Inflammatory Cream
Topricin Anti-Inflammatory Pain Relief Cream
This antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory cream improves circulation and relieves chronic muscle, skin, and joint pain. It works well for skin conditions, as well as knee, shin and elbow injuries, and lower back pain. Use this cream before and after workouts, or immediately after an injury. For best results, reapply before going to bed.
CBD Pain Cream
Veritas Farms Full Spectrum CBD Sports Cream
Veritas Farms’ CBD Sports Cream is great for athletes or those who have active lifestyles. It is formulated by compound pharmacists and is specifically designed to optimize absorption, ensuring long-lasting results. It features full spectrum hemp oil to maximize the potential benefits of the entire hemp plant and is made with natural ingredients.
FAB CBD Cream
This topical CBD cream targets the source of muscle and joint pain to help ease discomfort. It’s made with full spectrum hemp extract from plants grown in the United States. Enjoy the light citrus aroma of its subtle blood orange scent as you apply.
Diamond CBD Lawrence Taylor – Pain Master CBD Cream
This high-quality CBD cream is sourced from industrial organic hemp oil. It provides pain relief and rejuvenation following sports or games for those who continuously work and tax their muscles and joints. This CBD muscle cream was designed with athletes in mind and approved by NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.
Muscle Rub
Tiger Balm Muscle Rub
Ideal for use before workouts or sports games, this muscle rub warms and soothes muscle aches and pains so that you can perform at your best. Its non-greasy formula is easy to apply and does not stain clothes.
Muscle Relaxant Cream
Sombra Warm Therapy Natural Pain Relieving Gel
This cream relaxes muscles to soothe chronic conditions as well as minor aches and pains. Its unique warming and cooling ingredients absorb quickly, and it offers a refreshing orange scent. It’s non-greasy, non-staining, and made in the United States.
Art of Sport Ultra Strength Recovery Cream
This performance-driven, ultra-strength cream offers fast-acting pain relief. It soothes backaches, bruises, and strains to help you recover quickly and get back to your peak physical performance. It also contains arnica and eucalyptus to nourish and hydrate your skin.
Takeaway
If you are experiencing muscle or joint pain after a workout, there are a variety of creams and gels on the market that can alleviate discomfort and help you recover quickly. Although the benefits from these creams are only temporary, they offer instant relief by directly targeting the source of the pain.