Case study location: London Marathon 2024

What is Muscle Balm?
When we created this formula, there were three things that we had to consider from our market research at the local football club. We needed to include heat to release any stiff muscles. Produce a base that was not so greasy it slid off the player’s leg. Something that was easy to use and transport. But most importantly, a formula that worked within an acceptable period.

The London Marathon was the ultimate event to introduce what we had created from the local football teams to another sporting industry. Not one to shy away from a challenge we at Muscle Mechanics also ran the marathon, covering all 26.2 miles with the Muscle Balm in our running belt. Before we ran on Sunday, we also exhibited at The London Marathon Running Show 2024. This is a 4-day event with extremely long hours from 10am until 8pm. So, the Muscle balm came into effective use before the actual run on Sunday.

We met over 50,000 people over the duration of this show, demonstrating how our product works on a selection of common areas that trouble runners whilst tapering for the big day.

These areas were:

• Shin Splints- Constant friction of the hard ground and position of running gait sends such a pain that it can create the feeling that the lower leg is heavy and unable to allow the foot to strike the ground and bounce up. Such occurrences happen in football, and it was no surprise we assisted many runners with this issue.
• Tight calf muscles/Lower back pain- The two have a unique connection and it is one of the most overlooked conditions that needed assistance to bring balance back to the runner.
• Frozen shoulder/ forward tilt of the neck- Some of the runners will only be doing this once in a lifetime and it was critical that we could allow them to enjoy this experience as much as possible. The frozen shoulder had a strong correlation with their running style and technique. With a demonstration of how to apply the product to the main trigger points and stretch with ease. The Muscle Balm proved to become a hit with this particular issue.
• Foot arch issues- This referring back to the gait of the amateur runner and what solutions they were already using that were not completely resolving the problem.
• Tight I.T. band and hamstrings- This happened to be something we had already covered in football and could already see how this Muscle Balm a valuable tool for the runner’s preparation for the marathon could be.

Taking into consideration all the above. We allowed the public to try our Muscle Balm on like you would with any other equipment. We needed to know how it fit the runner and how the relief took place with credible feedback. So, we allowed time for the application and then the response to active time to treat the area which was around 5 minutes. So, the runners went on to talk about what they were training for and fundraising. Then whilst still at the stand, the runners would notice that the area of discomfort had eased considerably. We asked them how it felt after the 5 minutes passed and, in most cases, they were able to move without restriction. The only visitors that could not were the ones that required the use of our Pain Relief Balm to target precise areas of pain.

So, with our feedback and selection process of creating the Muscle Balm we acknowledge the time and place that this could be used without causing too much disruption for a runner. Not everyone will be going for a personal best or an elite time. Most runners will be running because of a worthy cause or loved one that they care about. So, for Muscle Mechanics we understood the connection between the emotional impact of why someone is running and the potential requirement to introduce self-care for pre and post marathon recovery.

What is in the Muscle Balm?
Muscle Balm (Blue label) Has a unique combination of Shea Butter, grapeseed and beeswax that hold the essential oils to help with back, neck and calf spasms or cramp. The formula is targeted to bring warmth to the area but not too much that it burns. The use of middle notes in aromatherapy mean that the selection of oils does not lose potency for a much longer time. It increases circulation to the area generating a heat to release the muscle from contraction. Great for Pre or post workout muscular ache. It is key to warm up muscles sufficiently before exercise and with life getting hectic, we can forget to do this resulting in injury or abandoning training and losing momentum. With this balm you can take it with you in your car, kit bag or pocket and be sure that it is there when you need it. Running marathons does not come without pain and discomfort. But with Muscle Mechanics you can be sure to work through those tough parts of the course with some comfort. Especially in the days after an event when you need to continue with everyday life. Easing mobility to get you around but most of all enjoying your sporting hobby.

What our reviews say

“Rest, recovery and rehabilitation, the most important aspects of playing sport at any level. I was unlucky enough to experience two ankle injuries last season which put me out for most of the season but what really aided me in my recovery was Kim and her Muscle Mechanics therapy. I was fortunate enough to have her experience and expertise at hand. I can confidently say it made a difference in my recovery. The use of the balm around my injured area worked fantastically. I would recommend anyone to use Muscle Mechanics, Kim is amazing and a true professional, thank you Kim and to Muscle Mechanics, grateful to have you around the club.” (S. Khan)

“Peter Morris, First Team Therapist for Farnborough Football Club said: “I have been using Muscle Mechanics Balms on the players at Farnborough FC and have had great results. The muscle balm helps with pre-match aches and pains by warming the muscles therefore increasing the blood flow to the affected area, improving the efficiency of the team’s warm up. Whilst the Pain Relief Balm is the perfect mid match remedy to helping the players get back in the game and bring home the win.”

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