Recovery and Relief

Feeling Better, Getting Better, and Knowing the Difference

May 15, 2026

Today we're breaking down what separates a recovery product that works from one that only acts like it does, and how to build a recovery system that actually sticks.

Section 01 - The ProductLet's Talk Topicals

The elbow that's fine until it isn't. The wrist you've been quietly managing for three weeks. The shoulder that shows up two games in, right on schedule. Sound familiar? Perfect, because we're about to lay out the formula needed for a successful pain mitigation system, that easily fits in your current routine.

Before we get to that, we need to make sure we're looking at the right type of tool, or product, that we'll be using as the core of this routine. We're going to be walking through this with pickleball athletes in mind, but that doesn't limit the information in this article to only that. Whether you're an athlete in a different sport, or someone who's had it with the daily aches and discomfort, just know all the information to come pertains to you as well. So, what do we need out of a product? I'm sure we'd all agree on something that delivers results quickly, right there on the spot, and fits nicely inside a gym bag or paddle bag for easy access before, during, and after matches. This criteria here lands us right where we need to be looking,
Topical Analgesics.

Topical Analgesics, or simply "topicals", are formulations administered topically to the skin's surface for the delivery of targeted relief, either locally or systemically. These can be found in different forms such as balms, creams, ointments, and gels, providing those in need with a diverse range of accessibility.

In a sport like pickleball, the areas on the body that take the most use and abuse happen to be right beneath the skin's surface:

• The lateral epicondyle (tennis elbow)

• Wrist extensors

• The posterior rotator cuff

• The patella tendon

Since none of these target areas are buried deep beneath the surface, sitting only a few millimeters below the skin, topical application easily becomes the ideal approach.

Moving right along, let's dive in a bit deeper, where we start getting into the details that we need to be aware of. Different types of topicals operate with their own unique functions, all aiming at the same result: relief. Some are designed to cover all necessary ends, while others seem to fall a bit short. With a quick end-to-end walk through on these key details, you'll learn exactly what type of product you'll need for your specific case, without getting tangled up in the ones that will ultimately be a waste of your time and money. Which leads us right to our next stop, where we'll take a close look into active ingredients.

The Active Ingredients Landscape

An active ingredient is the constituent in a formulation that produces the biological and pharmacological effects. Understanding the active ingredients in pain relief balms and topical products is essential to choosing the right one for your needs. Here's a list of active ingredients that you're most likely to come across:

So, what are we taking from all of that? We have a couple of options that seem to operate with a strong focus on creating an effective, yet temporary, solution at skin level, still leaving the source of the problem ignored. Then we have two more options that seem to take a more involved approach, by addressing underlying issues surrounding the pain you're feeling. However, we still have one more type of formulation to cover which we saved for last, with good reason, as you'll see this one has quite a bit more to offer.

The Perfect Fit

We all have an inherent regulatory network built right into us called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Think of the ECS as your body's master thermostat, constantly adjusting vital functions to maintain a stable, healthy internal balance. By using its variety of unique receptors, the ECS can directly manage important functions in our body, like sleep regulation, appetite, mood, immune response, and the one we're after, how we respond to physical discomfort and pain.

When your muscles, tendons, or joints take a beating, CB2 receptors within this system go to work, directly dictating how your body handles inflammation.

The diagram below illustrates exactly what happens when targeted, plant-based compounds reach those receptors trans-dermally, meaning they don't just sit idle on the surface of your skin, but actually penetrate deep enough to connect with your ECS.

Getting the ECS involved is an absolute game-changer when it comes to dealing with pain and discomfort. There are cases where the pharmaceutical route would be the right call, but in cases suitable for topically applied solutions like ours, there's no need to run synthetics into your system when you have powerhouse options that work with your ECS directly, and your body will be thanking you too. So where do we go from here? With that quick lesson on topicals, you should be geared up properly to go find a product that meets your needs best. Or, what if you could just check that box off the list too while we're here?.

Section 02 - ApplicationRedefining the Approach

A lot of us tend to treat our balm like as a last resort emergency, only reaching for it once that ignored pain becomes too much to fight through. I hate to say it, but the results you're expecting won't show up with that strategy in play. So we'll toss that one right out the window, and begin building a fresh foundation that you can work right into your routine.

Laying Foundation, the Paddle Pro Way

1. Pre-session (the primer): Apply a thin layer to your usual trouble area(s) 5 to 10 min. before your match. The warming components increase circulation to tendons and muscles before they are under load. Simultaneously, the trans-dermal formula works sub-surface, delivering active compounds directly to your CB2 receptors. This reduces baseline irritation in healing tissue and primes it for activity. You aren't numbing or masking a deeper issue to play through it; you are proactively preparing the tissue for the work ahead.
2. Post-session (the defense line): Crucial step, as this is the window when micro-tears and acute inflammation begin to build. To counteract that damage, we must work within the first hour after our activity time, by applying a more generous dose than your pre-session application. This sends a massive wave of active compounds straight to the internal culprit, giving your ECS the exact tools it needs to blunt the stiffness before it locks up your joints.
3. Overnight (the deep repair): Sleep is when your body does its actual repair work. Right before bed, apply a thorough layer. This will extend active-ingredient contact time right through that critical window. Instead of just treating the day's wear and tear, you're giving the formula hours of uninterrupted engagement with your ECS to continue the work while you rest. For stubborn cases, wrap a loose ace bandage over the application site. This creates a mild occlusive effect that improves absorption. Just keep it loose, circulation matters more than pressure.

"Am I Doing it Right?"

Rubbing a balm across the surface of your skin for 10 seconds isn't quite the look we're going for. Think less "body painting", and more "targeted application".

• A little goes a long way. Use a pea-to-quarter-sized amount per area. More product doesn't mean more benefit, it means the skin becomes over saturated, leaving a bunch of extra product sitting on your skin.
• Wax-on, wax-off. Massage it into the skin using circular, sustained, moderate pressure for 60 to 90 seconds per area. The goal here isn't just rubbing it on; you are actively working the balm into the tissue.
• Cover the full referral area, not just the sore spot. You'd think that wherever it hurts most, is where the balm should go, but that's not always the case. We'll use Tennis Elbow as an example. For this case you'd want to apply to the lateral epicondyle (outer bony prominence), and the upper third of the forearm. Yes, the pain is at the elbow, but the muscle belly that anchors there runs down into the forearm. We want to be sure to treat the whole structure, not just the attachment point.
• Rinse those hands. A quick rinse of water or a simple wipe with a towel works here. Not a crucial step, more of a cautionary tip. It's easy to forget about the lingering counterirritants on your fingers, that is until you're awaiting your opponent's serve and you reach to wipe some sweat from your eye....not an ideal way to get back in the game, but easily avoided! Avoid the temporary blindness and make it a point to pack a small towel in your bag.

Areas Most Likely to be Balmed

• Elbow. the outer point of the elbow and the top of the forearm, three to four inches toward the wrist. Cover the tendon and the muscle belly that feeds it. Dealing with a persistent case? The Advanced Repair Guide covers a full three-phase rehab protocol.
• Wrist. The painful side of the wrist and the forearm muscles that anchor at it, palm-side or back-side depending on which tendons are involved. Most guides skip the forearm portion. Don't.
• Shoulder, rotator cuff. The posterior shoulder is the most commonly missed spot. Reach across with your opposite hand and apply to the muscle just behind the outer edge of the shoulder blade.
• Knee. Around the kneecap and along the patella tendon below it. Topicals work on surrounding tissue, not joint surfaces, so stay outside the joint capsule.

— Andy Dobric  |  May 15, 2026