This article was written in collaboration with Dr. Steve Andrews, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Founder of Rygg Health & Performance.
In professional baseball, recovery is the new performance metric. For the Brisbane Bandits, partnering with Rygg, the team has integrated Rygg Heate™ Thermo Performance Cream and Rygg Khule™ Cryo Active Gel into daily routines to maintain strength, mobility, and recovery across the season.
Dr Steve Andrews, Orthopaedic Surgeon & Founder of Rygg:
“Baseball players live in constant repetition with pitching, batting, rotational and repetitive movements. The smallest recovery edge can become the biggest competitive advantage.”
The Demands of Baseball on the Body.
Scientific literature confirms that baseball creates complex muscular loads:
- Pitching generates extreme rotational torque at the shoulder and elbow, often exceeding 6,000 deg/s of angular velocity (Seroyer et al., 2010).
- Batting combines explosive hip–shoulder rotation and rapid deceleration, producing trunk and lumbar stress.
- Frequent travel and long static periods contribute to postural strain and delayed recovery (Fullagar et al., 2015).
Together, these factors lead to muscular micro-trauma and fatigue which are two elements the Bandits target through structured warm-up and recovery protocols using Rygg products.
Benefits of Rygg Heate™
Pre-performance heat therapy has been shown to increase tissue extensibility and neuromuscular readiness (Petrofsky et al., 2013).
Rygg Heate™ Thermo Performance Cream applies this science practically delivering a controlled warming sensation that helps players feel mobile and confident before they play. Combined with pre sport massage targeting areas of the athlete that are susceptible to injury is key.
Benefits for players
- Promotes local circulation before exertion.
- Informed Sport Certified for certainty and peace of mind.
- Provides sensory feedback that enhances readiness.
Typical use of Rygg Heate™
- Shoulders, rotator cuff, and upper back.
- Hips and hamstrings before sprint drills or batting rotation.
Dr Andrews:
“Warmth prepares both muscle and mind. When an athlete feels ready, performance follows naturally.”
Recovery with Rygg Khule™
Research supports cryotherapy’s ability to reduce soreness and aid short-term recovery (Bleakley & Davison, 2010; Dupuy et al., 2018).
Rygg Khule™ Cryo Active Gel harnesses this principle offering fast-absorbing, non-greasy cooling gel to fatigued muscles.
Why athletes use it
- Provides an immediate cooling sensation post-game.
- Complements stretching, compression, and hydration routines.
- Informed Sport Certified for certainty and peace of mind.
Application zones
- Forearm, shoulder, and scapular areas post-pitching.
- Hamstrings and calves after base-running.
- Lower back following extended travel or weight sessions.
Dr Andrews:
“Cooling restores calm. It’s about closing the loop and signal to the body that the workload is done.”
Informed Sport: Trust through Testing
Clean performance is non-negotiable in professional baseball, college programs, and Japan’s NPB. Every batch of Rygg Heate™ and Khule™ undergoes independent screening by Informed Sport, verifying they are free from banned substances.
Why it matters
- Meets global anti-doping and MLB/NPB standards.
- Allows athletic trainers to validate batch codes for compliance.
- Builds confidence among international players transferring between leagues.
Dr Andrews:
“Athletes shouldn’t have to second-guess recovery. Informed Sport ensures Heate and Khule meet the same standard as the athletes themselves—tested, proven, trusted.”
Why Surgeon-Formulated Matters
Unlike cosmetic balms, Rygg formulations were designed from a sports-medicine perspective, balancing efficacy with compliance.
Dr Andrews:
“I built Rygg with a very clear focus of what I wanted to achieve. Every ingredient had to meet both medical scrutiny and locker-room practicality.”
This dual focus of science and simplicity makes Rygg appealing not just to the Bandits, but to physiotherapists and performance coaches worldwide.
Key Takeaways
Heate™ Thermo Performance Cream: warming comfort that enhances mobility and readiness.
- Khule™ Cryo Active Gel: cooling comfort that supports post-game recovery.
- Informed Sport Certified: tested, trusted, globally compliant.
- Scientifically grounded: heat and cold therapy backed by peer-reviewed research.
- Adopted internationally by baseball, rugby, and high-performance teams.
Dr Andrews:
“Recovery isn’t just what happens after the game. It’s what allows the next one to happen.”
References
- Petrofsky JS et al. (2013). Comparison of heat modalities on muscle flexibility and skin temperature. J Med Eng Technol, 37(4): 357-362.
- Bleakley CM & Davison GW. (2010). What is the biochemical and physiological rationale for using cryotherapy in sports injury management? Br J Sports Med, 44(3): 179-187.
- Dupuy O et al. (2018). An evidence-based approach for choosing post-exercise recovery techniques. Front Physiol, 9: 403.
- Nédélec M et al. (2013). Recovery in team sport: physiological, psychological, and performance effects. Sports Med, 43(1): 9-25.
- Seroyer ST et al. (2010). The kinetic chain in overhead throwing: its potential role for performance enhancement and injury prevention. Sports Health, 2(2): 135-146.
- Fullagar HH et al. (2015). Travel fatigue and sleep in professional athletes. Sports Med, 45(3): 367-381.
This article was written in collaboration with Dr. Steve Andrews, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Founder of Rygg Health & Performance - Rygg - Surgeon-formulated. Informed Sport certified. More than movement.