Walk into a gym or wellness store and you might encounter compression boots, smart rings, creatine supplements and ice baths. Their use by elite athletes can function as an implicit endorsement, making them seem more proven or more broadly useful than the evidence supports.
As an athletic trainer with experience in collegiate and professional sports, I now evaluate the evidence behind health and performance practices for an NCAA Division I athletics program. That work has shown me how teams decide whether a new product or training strategy offers a meaningful benefit.
kAmt=:E6 DA@CED 2C6 ?2EFC2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]````^D>D]f_``aQmE6DE:?8 8C@F?5Dk^2m 7@C ?6H 2AAC@2496D E@ 962=E9 2?5 A6C7@C>2?46] %62>D AFCDF6 D>2== 25G2?E286D 2?5 @7E6? 92G6 E96 DE277[ 52E2 2?5 C6D@FC46D E@ 6G2=F2E6 ?6H :562D 62C=:6C E92? >@DE @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D] qFE E96D6 2C6 ?@E 4@?EC@==65 =23@C2E@C:6D] s64:D:@?D 2C6 >256 F?56C AC6DDFC6[ H:E9 :?4@>A=6E6 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 2 56>2?5 7@C :>>65:2E6 C6DF=ED] $@>6 :562D AC@G6 FD67F=] ~E96CD AC@5F46 67764ED E92E 2C6 E@@ D>2== E@ >2EE6C[ H@C< @?=J :? ?2CC@H 4:C4F>DE2?46D @C 72:= E@ 9@=5 FA 2D 6G:56?46 56G6=@AD]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk2 2C:2\=236=lQ+@@>23=6 :>286Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdbbef^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g``\ga\>cJ_bE];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 2=ElQp >FD4F=2C H@>2? :? 2 H@C<@FE E@A D:ED :? 2? :46 32E9Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdbbef^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g``\ga\>cJ_bE];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk^2mk7:842AE:@?mx46 32E9D 42? C65F46 D@C6?6DD 2?5 DFAA@CE D9@CE\E6C> C64@G6CJ 27E6C 2? :?E6?D6 H@C<@FE] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^A9@E@^2E9=6E6\H@>2?\E2<:?8\:46\32E9\27E6C\CF??:?8\H@C<@FE\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:>286^a`ec_efadcYQmxG2? #@5C:8F6K p=32^:$E@4< G:2 v6EEJ x>286D !=FDk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9amw@H E62>D 6G2=F2E6 ?6H :562Dk^9am
kAmr92>A:@?D9:AD[ 42C66CD 2?5 >2;@C 7:?2?4:2= :?G6DE>6?ED >2J 56A6?5 @? <66A:?8 2E9=6E6D 962=E9J 2?5 AC6A2C65] v:G6? E9@D6 DE2<6D[ E62>D @7E6? 6IA=@C6 2?JE9:?8 E92E 4@F=5 8:G6 E96> 6G6? 2 D>2== 6586[ 6DA64:2==J H96? 2E9=6E6D >FDE C64@G6C BF:4<=J @C C6>2:? 962=E9J 5FC:?8 2 56>2?5:?8 D4965F=6]k^Am
kAm|65:42=[ 4@249:?8[ ?FEC:E:@? 2?5 A6C7@C>2?46 DE277 42? =@@< 2E E96 D2>6 2AAC@249 7C@> 5:776C6?E 2?8=6D] %96J 2D< H96E96C :E H@C<D[ H96E96C E96 36?67:E :D =2C86 6?@F89 E@ >2EE6C[ H96E96C :E :D D276 2?5 AC24E:42= 2?5 H96E96C :E D@=G6D E96 AC@3=6> 724:?8 E96 2E9=6E6]k^Am
kAmp DEC2E68J >2J 96=A @?6 2E9=6E6 5FC:?8 @?6 A2CE @7 E96 D62D@? 2?5 DE:== 36 2 A@@C 49@:46 7@C C@FE:?6 FD6] %62>D >2J 232?5@? :E H96? E96 C6DF=ED 2C6 :?4@?D:DE6?E[ 4@DED @FEH6:89 E96 36?67:ED @C :E 5@6D ?@E :>AC@G6 2 >62?:?87F= @FE4@>6]k^Am
kAmx D2H E9:D 4=62C=J H96? x 7:CDE 6?E6C65 2? }qp AC@76DD:@?2= E62>’D 565:42E65 C64@G6CJ =@F?86] #2E96C E92? H2:E:?8 7@C 2E9=6E6D E@ 766= E:C65 @C D@C6[ E96 DE277 A=2??65 C64@G6CJ 2C@F?5 H92E 6249 2E9=6E6 925 5@?6 2?5 ?66565 E@ 5@ ?6IE]k^Am
kAm%92E D9:7E >2EE6C65 >@C6 E92? E96 6BF:A>6?E :? E96 C@@>] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ab^:;DAA]a_`f\_fdhQm#64@G6CJ 3642>6 A2CE @7 E96 EC2:?:?8 A=2?k^2m C2E96C E92? 2? @AE:@?2= EC62E>6?E 27E6C AC24E:46]k^Am
k9am#64@G6CJ E@@=D >2J 96=A – 3FE FDF2==J @?=J 2 =:EE=6k^9am
kAm#64@G6CJ 56G:46D 92G6 >@G65 H6== 36J@?5 6=:E6 2E9=6E:4 EC2:?:?8 2?5 A6C7@C>2?46 724:=:E:6D] r@>AC6DD:@? 3@@ED[ >2DD286 8F?D 2?5 6=64EC:42= DE:>F=2E:@? 56G:46D 2C6 ?@H >2C<6E65 5:C64E=J E@ C64C62E:@?2= 2E9=6E6D[ @7E6? H:E9 E96 AC@>:D6D @7 72DE6C C64@G6CJ @C 36EE6C A6C7@C>2?46]k^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E96D6 E@@=D >2J 96=A[ 3FE E96 67764ED 2C6 @7E6? >@56DE] r@>AC6DD:@? 3@@ED >2J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]d``c^3:@=DA@CE]a_ac]`bbeedQmC65F46 A6C46:G65 >FD4=6 D@C6?6DDk^2m[ H9:=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bbh_^;7><g_b_`bgQm>2DD286 8F?Dk^2m >2J 96=A >FD4=6D 766= =6DD DE:77 2?5 :>AC@G6 D9@CE\E6C> C2?86 @7 >@E:@?] tG:56?46 7@C 3C@256C :>AC@G6>6?ED :? C64@G6CJ @C A6C7@C>2?46[ :?4=F5:?8 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;];A2:?]a_aa]_d]__cQm6=64EC:42= DE:>F=2E:@?k^2m[ :D =6DD 4@?D:DE6?E]k^Am
kAmtG6? H96? E96 6G:56?46 :D =:>:E65 @C E96 6IA64E65 36?67:E :D D>2==[ 2? 6=:E6 2E9=6E6 >2J DE:== 49@@D6 E@ FD6 2 C64@G6CJ E@@= 3642FD6 766=:?8 6G6? D=:89E=J 36EE6C 4@F=5 >2EE6C H96? 2?@E96C 82>6[ AC24E:46 @C 4@>A6E:E:@? :D 2=C625J D4965F=65] $@>6@?6 H9@ 6I6C4:D6D C64C62E:@?2==J >2J 2=D@ G2=F6 766=:?8 =6DD D@C6 3FE 42? @7E6? 25;FDE E96 ?6IE H@C<@FE 32D65 @? 9@H E96J 766=]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk2 2C:2\=236=lQ+@@>23=6 :>286Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdaeed^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g_e\d_\7KIFb9];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQmk:>8 2=ElQ!C@76DD:@?2= A9JD:@E96C2A:DE A6C7@C>D D9@4< >2DD286 H:E9 DA@CED A:DE@= :? 8J> >65:42= @77:46]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdaeed^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_g_e\d_\7KIFb9];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk^2mk7:842AE:@?m%@@=D E92E 96=A 2E9=6E6D 249:6G6 DA64:7:4 EC2:?:?8 8@2=D >2J ?@E 36 2AA=:423=6 E@ C64C62E:@?2= 2E9=6E6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^A9@E@^AC@76DD:@?2=\A9JD:@E96C2A:DE\A6C7@C>D\D9@4<\>2DD286\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:>286^`bcdg_bea`Qm$632DE:2? #2>:C6K |@C2=6D^|@>6?E G:2 v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am|2?J DFAA=6>6?ED =24< 6G:56?46k^9am
kAm%96 D2>6 AC:?4:A=6 2AA=:6D E@ ?FEC:E:@?] x7 6=:E6 2E9=6E6D FD6 2 DFAA=6>6?E[ 5@6D E92E >62? 6G6CJ@?6 H9@ 6I6C4:D6D D9@F=5 FD6 :Enk^Am
kAm#6D62C49 DFAA@CED D@>6 4@>>@?=J FD65 2AAC@2496D] !6@A=6 H9@ A6C7@C> C6D:DE2?46 EC2:?:?8 >2J 36?67:E 7C@> 255:?8 >@C6 AC@E6:? E@ E96:C 5:6E 3642FD6 AC@E6:? AC@G:56D E96 >2E6C:2=D E96 3@5J ?665D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``be^3;DA@CED\a_`f\_hfe_gQm3F:=5 2?5 C6A2:C >FD4=6k^2m] rC62E:?6[ 2 ?2EFC2==J @44FCC:?8 4@>A@F?5 E96 3@5J DJ?E96D:K6D FD:?8 E9C66 2>:?@ 24:5D[ H@C<D 5:776C6?E=J] xE 96=AD >FD4=6 AC@5F46 BF:4< 6?6C8J 5FC:?8 D9@CE 3FCDED @7 :?E6?D6 24E:G:EJ[ 2?5 DFAA=6>6?E2E:@? 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bbh_^?F`ea`beedQm:>AC@G6 DEC6?8E9 H96? 4@>3:?65 H:E9 C6D:DE2?46 EC2:?:?8k^2m]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 6G:56?46 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``be^3;DA@CED\a_`g\_hh_afQm>F49 H62<6C 7@C >2?J @E96C DFAA=6>6?EDk^2m D@=5 E@ 2E9=6E6D 2?5 6I6C4:D6CD] p DA@CED 5:6E:E:2? >2J C64@>>6?5 2 AC@5F4E @?=J 27E6C 4@?D:56C:?8 2? 2E9=6E6’D 5:6E[ 962=E9 9:DE@CJ[ EC2:?:?8 D4965F=6 2?5 4@>A6E:E:@? 56>2?5D] p 4@?DF>6C >2J 6?4@F?E6C E96 D2>6 AC@5F4E E9C@F89 2? 25G6CE:D6>6?E E92E =62G6D @FE E9@D6 56E2:=D]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 3FJ:?8 2 DFAA=6>6?E D:>A=J 3642FD6 46CE2:? 9:89\AC@7:=6 2E9=6E6D FD6 :E[ 2D< H92E AC@3=6> :E :D DFAA@D65 E@ D@=G6 2?5 H96E96C E96 6G:56?46 2AA=:6D E@ J@FC 8@2=D]k^Am
k9am(92E 2 C625:?6DD D4@C6 42? 2?5 42??@E E6== J@Fk^9am
kAm$>2CE C:?8D 2?5 7:E?6DD H2E496D :?4C62D:?8=J 4@>3:?6 >62DFC6D DF49 2D D=66A[ C6DE:?8 962CE C2E6[ 962CE\C2E6 G2C:23:=:EJ 2?5 C646?E 24E:G:EJ :?E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:76924<6C]4@>^E96\36EE6C\H2J\E@\FD6\J@FC\H62C23=6\D\C625:?6DD\52E2\`gd_b_cdgfQmC625:?6DD D4@C6k^2m >62?E E@ 6DE:>2E6 9@H AC6A2C65 D@>6@?6 >2J 36 E@ 6I6C4:D6] u@C E96 C64C62E:@?2= 6I6C4:D6C[ 2 =@H D4@C6 >:89E 2AA62C 27E6C 2 A@@C ?:89E’D D=66A[ 2 92C5 H@C<@FE E96 52J 367@C6 @C D6G6C2= F?FDF2==J DEC6DD7F= 52JD]k^Am
kAmt=:E6 DA@CED E62>D >2J FD6 C625:?6DD D4@C6D E@ AC@>AE BF6DE:@?D 23@FE D=66A[ :==?6DD[ DEC6DD @C C646?E EC2:?:?8] qFE 2 D4@C6 42??@E 6IA=2:? H92E 42FD65 2 492?86 @C 56E6C>:?6 H92E D9@F=5 92AA6? ?6IE] (62C23=6 >62DFC6>6?ED 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^Dc_afh\_ac\_a_ff\aQmG2CJ :? 244FC24Jk^2m[ D@ 2 D4@C6 E92E 4@>3:?6D D6G6C2= @7 E96> 42? 2AA62C >@C6 567:?:E:G6 E92? :E :D]k^Am
kAmp =@H C625:?6DD D4@C6 367@C6 2 A=2??65 H@C<@FE 5@6D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J >62? J@F D9@F=5 D<:A E96 H@C<@FE] xE :D >@C6 FD67F= H96? 4@?D:56C65 2=@?8D:56 9@H J@F 766=[ 9@H J@F D=6AE 2?5 H92E J@F 92G6 5@?6 C646?E=J] %96 D4@C6 D9@F=5 :?7@C> J@FC 564:D:@? – ?@E >2<6 :E]k^Am
k9am%96 C:89E 49@:46 56A6?5D @? J@FC 8@2=k^9am
kAmp? :??@G2E:@? 5@6D ?@E 92G6 E@ H@C< 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 E@ 36 G2=F23=6] pD 6G:56?46 56G6=@AD[ :ED 2AAC@AC:2E6 FD6 >2J 364@>6 ?2CC@H6C 2?5 36EE6C 567:?65]k^Am
kAmx46 32E9D :==FDEC2E6 E9:D :562] p? 2E9=6E6 H9@ ;FDE 4@>A6E65 2?5 >FDE 4@>A6E6 282:? E@>@CC@H >2J FD6 2? :46 32E9 3642FD6 :E 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^Dc_afh\_`b\__eb\gQmC65F46 D@C6?6DD 2?5 DFAA@CE D9@CE\E6C> C64@G6CJk^2m[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 5FC:?8 2 E@FC?2>6?E @C 56>2?5:?8 DEC6E49 @7 82>6D]k^Am
kAm$@>6@?6 =:7E:?8 H6:89ED E@ 3F:=5 DEC6?8E9 2?5 >FD4=6 92D 2 5:776C6?E 8@2=] #68F=2C=J FD:?8 :46 32E9D :>>65:2E6=J 27E6C C6D:DE2?46 EC2:?:?8 >2J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^Dc_afh\_a_\_`bea\_QmC65F46 D@>6 @7 E96 >FD4=6\3F:=5:?8 C6DA@?D6k^2m E@ 6I6C4:D6]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 3FJ:?8 2 C64@G6CJ 56G:46[ 492?8:?8 2 DFAA=6>6?E C@FE:?6 @C =6EE:?8 2 C625:?6DD D4@C6 2=E6C 2 H@C<@FE[ 2D< E9C66 32D:4 BF6DE:@?Di (92E 2> x ECJ:?8 E@ 244@>A=:D9n xD E96C6 8@@5 6G:56?46 E92E E9:D 2AAC@249 96=AD H:E9 E92E 8@2=n s@6D :E >2<6 D6?D6 7@C >J 962=E9[ D4965F=6 2?5 EC2:?:?8nk^Am
kAmu@C A6@A=6 ECJ:?8 E@ DE2J 24E:G6[ :>AC@G6 7:E?6DD @C 766= 962=E9:6C[ E96 =6DD@? :D ?6:E96C E@ 4@AJ 6G6CJ C@FE:?6 @C AC@5F4E FD65 3J 6=:E6 2E9=6E6D ?@C E@ C6;64E 6G6CJ :562 E92E 4@>6D 7C@> DA@CED] %96 36EE6C =6DD@? :D E@ 25@AE E96 AC@46DD 6=:E6 E62>D FD6i s67:?6 E96 8@2=[ 6I2>:?6 E96 6G:56?46[ 4@?D:56C E96 :?5:G:5F2=[ 2?5 DE@A H96? E96 C6DF=ED 5@ ?@E ;FDE:7J E96 2AAC@249]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aggabfQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^252>\2??244@?6\ae`dbg`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aggabfQmp52> p??244@?6k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\E6I2D\2E\2C=:?8E@?\f`gnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aggabfQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 %6I2D 2E pC=:?8E@?k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^49:=5C6?\6IA6C:6?46\>@C6\:?;FC:6D\DEC6DD\2?5\6G6?\3FC?@FE\H96?\E96J\DA64:2=:K6\:?\@?6\DA@CE\aad`chnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aggabfQmr9:=5C6? 6IA6C:6?46 >@C6 :?;FC:6D[ DEC6DD 2?5 6G6? 3FC?@FE H96? E96J DA64:2=:K6 :? @?6 DA@CEk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^962CE\C2E6\K@?6D\2C6?E\2\A6C764E\>62DFC6\@7\6I6C4:D6\:?E6?D:EJ\3FE\C68F=2C=J\86EE:?8\J@FC\962CE\AF>A:?8\:D\DE:==\:>A@CE2?E\7@C\7:E?6DD\a`hg__nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aggabfQmw62CE C2E6 K@?6D 2C6?’E 2 A6C764E >62DFC6 @7 6I6C4:D6 :?E6?D:EJ[ 3FE C68F=2C=J 86EE:?8 J@FC 962CE AF>A:?8 :D DE:== :>A@CE2?E 7@C 7:E?6DDk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H92E\42FD6D\>FD4=6\4C2>AD\5FC:?8\6I6C4:D6\2E9=6E6D\2?5\4@2496D\>2J\H2?E\E@\=@@<\2E\E96\A=2J:?8\DFC7246\aeae`hnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aggabfQm(92E 42FD6D >FD4=6 4C2>AD 5FC:?8 6I6C4:D6n pE9=6E6D 2?5 4@2496D >2J H2?E E@ =@@< 2E E96 A=2J:?8 DFC7246k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?mp52> p??244@?6 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^aggabf^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
