7 athletic treatments for fall sports season

It's hard to believe, but back-to-school season is in full swing, and if you're the parent of a student athlete, there's a good chance your son or daughter is participating in late summer practices to ready up for the coming fall sports season. Soreness, muscle strains and injuries can happen at any time. But there are a variety of athletic treatments that can help ease any soreness and provide additional drug-free pain relief. If you are enrolled in a flexible spending account (FSA), you can help keep your kids off the sidelines and in the action all season long.

Here are a few athletic treatments and therapeutic products to keep in mind as the school year gets underway!

Cold Packs

Cold therapy is the most common treatment for acute sports injuries, as a standard cold pack can dramatically reduce pain, swelling and inflammation in injured muscles and joints. Use it for bruises, sprains and muscle pulls before and after physical activity to speed recovery times from injuries.

Check Out: Battle Creek

Hot Packs

Heat therapy is especially helpful when treating sore muscles and joints and a great drug-free athletic treatment. Localized heat can open blood vessels and deliver oxygenated blood and nutrients to the affected area to reduce recovery times. Combining both cold and hot packs during rehabilitation may also be effective for some injuries.

Check Out: Cara Moist/Dry Heating Pad with Select Heat

Hot/Cold Sectionals

If you're looking for a therapeutic product that can do double duty, sectionals that can be cooled in the fridge or heated in the microwave for larger areas like the lower back are a great option for student athletes looking to recover quickly from heavy activity.

Check Out: Thermal-Aid Small Sectional

Kinesiology Tape

Kinesiology Tape, also commonly referred to as K-Tape, is used to provide additional support to sore muscles and joints through strengthening taping methods. This synthetic tape can stand up to sweat, moisture and extreme temperatures to provide another layer of protection during heavy physical activity.

Check Out: KT TAPE PRO, Pre-Cut, 20 Strip, Synthetic, Laser Blue

Knee Supports

If your son or daughter has continual issues with knee sprains and associated injuries, he/she may benefit from the use of knee supports during physical activity. These sleeves are worn over the joint and provide additional support for the knee, but still providing a full range of movement. Wrist, elbow and other joint supports are also FSA eligible!

Check Out: TheraPearl Knee Wrap

Back Supports

Sports like football or wrestling typically have a weightlifting regimen that goes along with the conditioning process before the season begins. Lifters should aim to give their lower backs additional support when lifting to provide additional support and protection against injuries.

Check Out: Back-A-Line Back Support with Lumbar Pad

Plantar Fasciitis Support

Individuals with flat feet or wearing shoes with poor support are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis, the most common form of heel pain that can be extremely painful. Sleep supports are worn during the night to keep the foot and heel in the proper therapeutic position all night long to speed recovery times.

Check Out: FUTURO Night Plantar Fasciitis Sleep Support, 1 ea

For everything you need to keep you and your loved ones healthy, visit FSAstore.com! We have the web's largest selection of FSA eligible items to help you maximize the potential of your healthcare benefits!