The Extremely Useful "Magic Spray"

A common scene in many soccer games, especially in the world cup, is a player going down, and team doctors coming to their aid with a special spray that gets the player back on their feet almost instantly. What is this "magic spray", how does it work, and how can you get your hands on it?

How Does Cold Spray Work?

By spraying aerosolized refrigerants onto a surface, the refrigerants absorb the heat and take it away. When applied to the body, this cools the applied area extremely fast, numbing the skin, slowing blood flow, and reducing nerve activity. This is how soccer players are able to get back on their feet so quickly. Cold spray works like a high-speed ice pack.

Cold temperatures cause things to contract. When applied to the body, the first things to contract are blood vessels. This causes a decrease in blow flow, which prevents swelling and reduces nerve activity, creating the numbing sensation. Once the affected area comes back to normal temperature, blood flow returns at a normal rate, artificially speeding up the recovery process.

Safety Precautions

Keep in mind, cold spray should only be used on unbroken, and unburned skin. Refrigerants cause serious damage to sensitive tissues, like the eyes. Only use cold spray on injuries like pulled muscles, bruises, joint pain, muscle spasms, etc.