Less Pain through Technology

By Ed Griffin

Years of running have left me with achilles/heel issues which leave my foot and ankle inflamed and have limited how much and how often I can run. A recent search about my problem led me to a small family-owned company called Ubertherm. 

And if you have any foot, ankle, knee or hamstring issues, you need to read this.

In the past, I have used traditional ice packs, bags of frozen vegetables and countless other methods to ice my problem. Each session was cut short due to the stinging pain the severe cold of the ice had on my body. What I have learned is that conventional ice packs are simply overzealous, freezing muscles and tendons to temperatures so low that they suffer ice burns, nerve injuries, and sometimes even frostbite. Even a short ice burn can trigger or worsen existing inflammation. Freezing also makes muscles and tendons brittle and prone to re-injury.

What makes Ubertherm so different is the technology and research put into the product. What Ubertherm figured out is that cooling, not freezing, is the trick to helping slow the cycle of chronic inflammation and calm the nerves that transmit pain. There are a whole bunch of technical reasons why these great new products are better for you than ice packs, but the bottom line is, Ubertherm gradually cools the inflamed area, allowing you to have a comfortable 20-30 minute session, producing reduced inflammation.

In my case using the Ubertherm product, along with two weekly Normatec recovery compression boot sessions in our store, has allowed me to double the amount of time and miles of running over a four month period of time (always increase gradually).

Fleet Feet now carries two Ubertherm products, one for foot and ankle, and one for the knee. Plus I was actually able to use the foot ankle unit on a tight hamstring with great results. Stop by Fleet Feet and see how this technology can help you run, walk or stay more active.

Ed Griffin and his wife Ellen own Fleet Feet Syracuse, which they founded in May of 2000. Fleet Feet Syracuse has received National Recognition as a Top 50 Running Store in America 12 years in a row and was named Best Running Store in America in 2012. Ed enjoys helping the team at Fleet Feet and our customers achieve their fitness and professional goals. In his spare time, Ed speaks to companies and organizations on a variety of topics, walks his dogs, enjoys good music and is the family chef. He can be reached at ed@fleetfeetsyracuse.com.