Nuflex Muscles & Joints cooling gel

As with the Nuflex warming gel the accompanying cooling gel appears to do what it says on the tube (also in a spray version), but the feel good factor is much more obvious than with the warming gel when it comes to treating your post exercise aches and pains.

Again, where opinion divides is whether, or to what extent, it can really help in speeding up the recovery or healing process.

While the majority of physios and soigneurs appear to promote the notion that massage or physical warm ups/downs are more critical, the oily medium used for rubs being secondary, this is a product that's aimed principally at athletes looking for home 'solutions' rather than to trained and paid masseurs, and as such it's pleasant to use. You smooth it on rather than massaging it in and the cool tingly effect is fairly instant, remaining for an hour or so after application.

The instructions recommended that you should apply it 'several times a day' after exercise, so a 100ml tube will disappear pretty quickly. If you're the cost conscious type you're probably only going to be using it after competitive events or more vigorous training sessions.

The dominant ingredients are lemon oil as 'natural aspirin', anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic and analgesic plus peppermint oil to increase blood circulation and act as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. As with the warming gel, these are big claims that, in the words of our tame soigneur, "conjure up elements of reality that will certainly appear to work for some."

Actually, I found the cooling gel to be far more effective (or at least satisfying to use) than the accompanying warming gel. The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anaesthetic effects appear to be more than just skin deep and the strong menthol aroma reflects the almost instant effect it has on your legs. It goes on easily and within just a couple of minutes has obvious dulling effects on minor post exercise muscle aches.

I kept using it several times a day for a couple of days after hard sessions. The ache-dulling effect certainly isn't as long lasting as an occasional Ibuprofen fix, but the feel-good aspect is streets ahead.

Verdict

The claims for the ingredients and their effects sound ambitious but the feel-good effect is fairly potent.