As I venture further into my late twenties, two things have become abundantly clear: hangovers definitely get worse, and recovering from exercise takes longer.
At 27, I’ve still got some way to go before I hit the twilight of my peak years.
Nevertheless, I’m just a bit more conscious about how I look after my body, especially while juggling high-impact sports like football and weightlifting.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to sound prematurely aged. I haven’t quite reached the ‘back in my day’ and ‘get off my lawn’ stage.
As those who’ve recently felt the waning grasp of youthful invincibility can attest, the aches and pains inevitably begin to creep up.
One area that bears the brunt of the punishment from deadlifts and sliding challenges is my back. Some mornings after a gruelling back session, I feel less like Arnold Schwarzenegger and more like C-3PO.
In a bid to loosen up and apply some WD-40 to my bolts and brackets, I briefly entertained the idea of ice baths and cold showers. Let me tell you, that experiment ended rather abruptly.
Sure, it might look quirky on TikTok, but believe me, there’s nothing appealing about it on a cold winter’s morning.
With my frozen tail between my legs, I decided I’d be better suited to the opposite end of the heat therapy spectrum. After a quick bit of research, I stumbled upon Fireactiv joint and muscle supports.
I must admit, I had seen plenty of people strapped up in thermal supports before, but I hadn’t ever thought to give them a try. Up until now, my version of heat therapy started and ended with a soak in the bath.
Intrigued by the idea, I decided to take the plunge and see what all the fuss was about. Here’s how I got on…
The Science Behind Recovery
What caught my eye with Fireactiv, unlike the other stuff Google threw my way, was how it actually gets the job done.
Believe it or not, there are no batteries, wires, or microwaves needed to get the pads up to temperature.
The fibres of each support are fused with bio-ceramic heat-reflective particles, harnessing your body heat to provide a non-invasive form of pain relief. How clever is that?
By radiating heat back into the body, Fireactiv dilates the blood vessels in the target area, boosting blood and oxygen circulation. This, in turn, speeds up recovery and soothes those niggles you can’t otherwise reach.
This process, known as ‘long-wave infrared radiation’, works all over the body. Fireactiv has specially designed supports for your neck, ankle, elbow, and just about everywhere else.
Given I have the lower back of an 80-year-old, there was only one support I was interested in. Anticipating its arrival, I made sure to do a gruelling deadlift workout the night before.
Was it necessary? Absolutely not, but boy did it make the first use that little bit sweeter. The Fireactiv back support comes with a set of red and white heat pads.
The red pads offer a more intense heat for quick relief, while the milder white pads suit longer use. Following my antics the night before I couldn’t help but go straight for the red pads, and my god was it bliss.
The combination of the compression from the adjustable velcro belt with the deep waves of heat just melted away my DOMS.
It was like the warm embrace my lower back always needed. The white pads were just as soothing, and I think going forward I may even incorporate them into my warm-ups to get me nice and loose before hitting the gym.
The Verdict
Naturally, I’m looking at Fireactiv’s supports through the lens of a gym rat, but there are so many more utilities these belts offer.
Thermal therapy can ease symptoms of Arthritis, and period cramps, and even offer an alternative to pills for pain relief.
I loved the fact the belts come in different sizes because ‘one-size-fits-all’ just doesn’t exist.
To be honest, at £39.95 this thermal back support is an absolute steal.
Just think how much you would have to pay for just one weekly massage, or worse still, the amount of begging you would have to do to get your partner to do it for you.
If you want to unlock ultimate comfort, head to Fireactiv’s website today. Don’t forget to use Fireactiv discount code ‘gymfluencers‘ for 15% off.
