The third phase of the RICE treatment technique for pain relief includes compression. If a compression pack is applied to the area of pain, it will provide comfort from your pain, can reduce swelling, and allow your body to move a bit more easier. An elastic strap, which you can purchase at any drug store, if wrapped snuggly but not too tightly, can serve as a decent compression pack.
But what about those copper-infused compression products we see on the television? Do they really work? The jury is still out on whether they are effective at providing pain relief. Or is it? Let’s see what Yahoo News has to say about it.
What You Need to Know About Copper Compression Sleeves and Pain Relief
Copper-infused compression garments are selling like crazy. Ranging from tight-fitting knee and elbow sleeves, to shirts, leggings, gloves and socks, these products are marketed as a way to relieve pain and improve sports endurance. One of the biggest purveyors of copper-infused athletic apparel, Tommie Copper, grossed about $87 million in sales between April 2011 and October 2014, according to court documents.
The only hitch? There’s little to no reliable scientific evidence that the copper/compression combo does what manufacturers are claiming. Which is why Tommie Copper and its founder Thomas Kallish agreed to pay $1.35 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceptively advertised their copper-infused garments that are priced between $29.50 and $69.50. The proposed federal court order imposes an $86.8 million judgment, which will be partially suspended upon payment of $1.35 million by the defendants.”
The FTC and Consumer Reports both agreed that copper-infused compression is not effective in providing pain relief, and the FTC slapped a false advertising fine, a pretty hefty fine, to Tommie Copper, a company which markets and sells copper-infused compression products. Even though Tommie Copper did pay over a million dollars to settle with the FTC, the company “neither admitted nor denied the allegations of the FTC’s complaint”.
If you browse the web to see what consumers are saying about the effectiveness of Tommie Copper products, as it relates to pain relief, there are those who say it works, and those who have some choice, negative words for it. So, from a consumer’s perspective, Tommie Copper’s copper-infused compression products may provide pain relief for some, and not so much for others.
As always, it’s best to do your due diligence when looking to purchase pain relief products.
