Dealing with soreness or achiness? A little dab of the right product can help. Of course, even the best muscle pain relief cream will only provide a temporary respite, but it can be super helpful when you need to target pain ASAP.
As SELF has previously reported, these over-the-counter (OTC) creams, ointments, gels, and balms work by directly applying their active ingredients to your skin, which then quickly absorbs them. These ingredients include “menthol for cooling effects, camphor for warming effects, and lidocaine for localized numbing,” Andy Fata-Chan, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and fitness coach at Moment Physical Therapy & Performance in New York, tells SELF. It’s also common to find creams containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and diclofenac sodium; arnica, an herb that research suggests may reduce inflammation; and capsaicin, which can help with nerve pain.
It’s important to talk to your doctor when you notice new aches and pains (or if your standard post-workout soreness suddenly feels more severe). But keeping a topical pain reliever in your gym bag or weekender will come in clutch when you forget your trusty bottle of Advil or Tylenol. Not sure which ones are worth trying? Keep reading—we’ve selected the best options on the market, including some that SELF staffers swear by.
Our top picks
- MagniLife Arnica Pain Relief Gel, $12
- Icy Hot Pro No Mess, $15
- Rugby Capsaicin 0.025% Cream, $21
- Advil Targeted Relief Pain Relieving Cream, $12
- Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel, $18
- Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Pain Relieving Ointment, $16
In this article
Shop the best muscle pain relief cream
Show your muscle strains, sprains, and knots the door.
MagniLife Arnica Pain Relief Gel
SELF’s senior health writer is a longtime fan of this arnica-infused gel. “I’ve used this since my ballet days,” she says. “It’s easy to rub in, feels a bit cool to the touch, and generally soothes things a bit. I mostly used it on sore feet after they’d been shoved into pointe shoes for hours, but more recently I used it on a swollen ankle after twisting it, and it helped a bit!”’
One thing to note: Products containing arnica can be irritating, so if you have sensitive skin, make sure to do a patch test before applying this gel to large areas of your skin.
Type: Gel | Active ingredients: Arnica
Icy Hot Pro No Mess
Icy Hot’s classic pain-relieving formula gets a mess-free upgrade in this roll-on cream. The packaging allows you to apply a precise amount of product directly where you need it, without gooping up your hands. And its active ingredients deliver a one-two punch for your pain: Cooling menthol has a near-instant effect, while camphor’s warming properties soothes in a more sustained way.
Plus, its applicator is covered in gentle, kneading nodes, so you get a little massage to top it off.
Type: Roll-on | Active ingredients: Menthol, camphor
Rugby Capsaicin 0.025% Cream
Rugby
Capsaicin 0.025% Cream
When you’re dealing specifically with nerve pain (say, from a shingles rash), experts recommend capsaicin cream. It essentially affects your nerves’ activity, so they can’t generate the sensation of pain for a few hours.
Rugby’s formula is considered highly effective and may also help with muscle and joint pain. It’s fragrance-free and has a pleasantly warming sensation—capsaicin comes from chiles, after all. That’s why the brand strongly recommends you wash your hands thoroughly after applying the cream. (You only need to watch one episode of Hot Ones to know that chiles and randomly touching your face do not mix.)
Type: Cream | Active ingredients: Capsaicin
Advil Targeted Relief Pain Relieving Cream
Advil
Targeted Relief Pain Relieving Cream
Made with four common pain-relievers, this cream stops, treats, and prevents common types of muscle strains and pain. You can feel its effects for up to eight hours, and its tube features a convenient applicator that makes it easy to reach areas like your lower back and neck.
Type: Cream | Active ingredients: Methyl salicylate, menthol, camphor, capsaicin
Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel
Voltaren
Arthritis Pain Gel
A cream containing NSAIDs (like Voltaren) can be particularly effective against chronic musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage between your bones wears away and causes them to rub together. It’ll address the inflammation in your muscles and joints, and even help reduce swelling.
Until recently, Voltaren was only available with a prescription. But now, you can get that Rx-strength formula over the counter in a quick-absorbing gel. The tube itself has an easy-to-open flip cap that you don’t have to fiddle around with, and the gel has a fresh, clean scent.
Type: Gel | Active ingredients: Diclofenac sodium
Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Pain Relieving Ointment
Tiger Balm
Ultra Strength Pain Relieving Ointment
Multiple SELF staffers say they grew up in “Tiger Balm households,” daubing on the stuff wherever it ached after sports practice. It has the same combination of ingredients as Icy Hot, so it cools and warms in pleasant succession.
This specific ointment from the brand is made for post-workout soreness and recovery. After you hit the showers (it’s best applied to clean skin), consider the muscle groups that you paid extra attention to at the gym and smear a little Tiger Balm on for good measure.
Type: Ointment | Active ingredients: Camphor, menthol
Frequently asked questions about muscle pain relief cream
What are the benefits of using a muscle pain relief cream?
“[These products] are typically utilized for muscle soreness, strains, joint aches, chronic pain, and soft tissue irritations like tendinopathy,” Dr. Fata-Chan says. He notes that most start working within 10 minutes of application and last for several hours (though exactly how long will depend on the product’s exact formula). They’re perfect for those cranky little problem areas that could otherwise distract you from a workout or make you feel stiff throughout your day.
Plus, there’s a convenience factor to pain relief creams: Where oral pain medications can have broader effects, topical products are more precise—so, if you’re only dealing with sore muscles in one area, a cream can give you fast-acting, on-the-spot pain relief.
What should you know before using a muscle pain relief cream?
These products aren’t formulated for deep joint problems or acute injuries, Dr. Fata-Chan says. If you’re dealing with a fracture, tear, or severe pain, you’re better off seeing your health care provider than trying a topical treatment.
Be wary of irritation too: Since many pain-relieving active ingredients have a warming effect, some brands caution against using a heating pad in addition to their products. And, as we mentioned before, it’s always a good idea to patch test a new product in a small area of your skin first. If you don’t notice signs of irritation like redness, itching, or a rash, you can go on to use it more broadly.
If you use a muscle pain relief cream as directed and see no improvements (or notice your pain is getting worse) after a week or two, talk to your doctor. They’ll help determine the root cause and your best course of treatment.
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