Drugs don't workResist the reflex to reach for a bottle of ibuprofen to reduce swelling. "Killing pain is fine," says Andrew Pruitt, author of Andy Pruitt's Medical Guide for Cyclists, "but deflating inflammation during the initial stages of injury may actually delay healing." In...

bleeding – more severe damage is the inevitable result. If you have no option but to carry on, try to cool the area with water and slow right down – walking is ideal.I stands for Ice – the application of which should be carefully controlled. Simply putting

can confirm the diagnosis. What else could it be?A pain in the outer side of the knee can also be due to a strain of the lateral collateral ligament, which hinges the knee joint, or a trapped synovium (knee lining). Self-treatmentIce it, ice it

.Self-treatmentThis should include a heel raise of Sorbothane or foam, ensuring that heel tabs do not impinge upon your tendon when your toes are pointed (cutting the heel tabs off will certainly help, too). Applying ice in the form of a pack or massage and very gentle

at my PC late at night looking for an event with a difference, I stumbled across a race website for The North Pole Marathon. It instantly seemed to tick all the boxes. A race run entirely on ice, in temperatures as low as –30C, in the middle

The London Marathon felt more like an obstacle course than a race. I spent half of every mile looking at the floor trying to dodge the half-empty discarded water bottles. After every Lucozade gel station the floor was like an ice rink where

DOMS if there is sufficient muscle damage. Some athletes use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) and ice packs or even ice baths to help reduce the inflammation. The other important thing to remember is that while you have muscle

Cointreau liqueur (or orange juice) 100ml white wine (or apple juice or water) Yoghurt, cream or ice cream to serve1 Heat the oven to 190C. Pour boiling water over the currants, cranberries and pink peppercorns to just cover, and soak for 10 minutes.2 Mix

) cooler with icy water, you attach it to the bandage you wear around your sore joint. This fills up with the cold liquid, and provides a double whammy of ice and compression. Contact 0800 169 7735; www.aircast.co.ukA basic Firstaid4sport endurance events

per cent chance an injury will recur, which suggests athletes in general are not treating their injuries properly.Next time you become injured, or even feel a twinge, act quickly. Start off by resting - and yes, that does mean not racing. Ice