ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Free access

Minerva Medica 2021 April;112(2):255-60

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.20.06819-6

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A sport cream (Harpago-Boswellia-ginger-escin) for localized neck/shoulder pain

Shu HU ^{1, 2}, Gianni BELCARO ^{1, 2} ✉, Maria R. CESARONE ^{1, 2}, Beatrice FERAGALLI ^{1, 2}, Roberto COTELLESE ^{1, 2}, Mark DUGALL ^{1, 2}, Claudia SCIPIONE ^{1, 2}, Valeria SCIPIONE ^{1, 2}, Claudia MAIONE ^{1, 2}, Giada MARAMALDI ^{1, 2}, Stefano TOGNI ^{1, 2}, Antonella RIVA ^{1, 2}

¹ Irvine3 Labs, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy; ² Indena, Milan, Italy

BACKGROUND: Neck/shoulder, sudden pain, or muscular pain (not associated to structural or bone/joints components), due to fascial or muscular strain is common in active subjects, in non-professional athletes and sports performers. The aim of this supplement registry was the evaluation of a cream based on natural, active ingredients for topical application in supporting the improvement of pain and improving head/neck mobility, possibly minimizing the use of systemic drugs.
METHODS: The cream includes standardized active ingredients of natural origin as an extract of Harpagophytum procumbes, an extract from Boswellia serrata, a CO2 extract of ginger and escin. Subjects were divided into three groups, all using the standard management (SM) in combination with the Sport Cream or in addition to Flector (diclofenac) patch.
RESULTS: The groups were comparable and homogeneous at the baseline. No side effects or skin tolerability issues were observed with the Sport Cream nor with the SM or diclofenac patches. Subjects receiving sport cream + SM reported a significant improvement in pain, stiffness, altered mobility and altered working capacity, with a reduced need for rescue medication (diclofenac) compared to subjects in the other two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Finally, subjects receiving sport cream + SM reported a more remarkable decrease in skin temperature in the affected area associated to an improvement in clinical symptoms.

KEY WORDS: Neck pain; Shoulder pain; Administration, topical; Boswellia; Ginger; Escin