Sports Medicine
 Customized medications using transdermal
therapy can increace effectiveness and decrease side effects.
Medications can also be used in combination to improve therapy.
Some problems that can be addressed are:
- Athletes foot - Various synergistic combinations can be used
in antifungal therapies.
- Hyperhidrosis - Excessive sweating has numerous options for
topical treatment.
- Hemmorrhoids - Symptoms can often be allieviated by conbinations
of internal and external anti-inflammatories, anesthetics,
and antibiotics.
- Rehydration - Cusomized flavored sports drinks can meet nutritional
requirements for individuals.
Two effective therapies are iontophoresis and phonophoresis:
- Iontophoresis allows delivery of medication into the tissues
beneath the skin by electronic transport of ionized drugs in
solution. It may be considered when immediate results are needed
(i.e., performance athletes and active patients). Iontophoresis
may become an alternative to steroid injections to the carpal
tunnel region.
- Phonophoresis involves using a cream or gel containing medications
such as corticosteroids, local anesthetics, electrolytes, or
antibiotics and applying to the treatment area and then massaged
with a transducer head. The technique has been widely used
in sports medicine by podiatrists, orthopedists, and physical
therapists.
Customized medications are prepared to the needs of each individual
and consider the lifestyle of the athelete. Contact our compounding
pharmacist of information on how these treatments can benefit
you.
Transdermal therapy to decrease side effects-medications that
relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and relax muscles can have
side effects that are detrimental to athletic performance,
such as drowsiness. However when these medications are administered
transdermally, the therapeutic benefit can be enhanced while
significantly reducing the risk of adverse effects.
For example, research has shown that topically applied ketoprofen
provides a high local concentration of drug below the site
of application but decreases
systemic exposure and significantly reduces the risk of ketoprofen were found
to be 100-fold greater below the application site (knee) compared to systemic
concentrations. Muscle relaxants can be similarly prepared to minimize the
risk of drowsiness.
Trigger point application-pain may originate at the spinal level,
and follow a nervous pathway along an entire dermatome to the
trigger point, where the sensation is perceived. Trigger point
application may be useful when pain medications are administered
transdermally, and is especially useful for treating neuropathic
pain.
Combinations to improve therapy- numerous compatible medications
can be combined into a single dosage form for ease of administration.
also, a synergistic effect can be achieved when certain medications
are used in combinations.
Penetrant enhancers such as USP medical grade DMSO can improve the extant of
absorption of topically applied medications.
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